Contamination issues must be addressed

THE implications of the PFAS contamination from firefighting foam leaking from RAAF Base Garbutt have not been adequately described by any media outlet.

The Federal Court has identified the entire “investigation area” of the RAAF Base Garbutt PFAS investigation as being contaminated.

Using the Queensland Government PFAS Incident Management and Stakeholder Engagement Guidelines as a reference all the properties identified will or have been listed on the Contaminated Lands Register most likely as a Category 1 or 2 priority. The contamination is widespread and this will necessitate changes of behaviour of impacted property residents.

There has been no information publicly distributed to all impacted residents regarding protection of their health and legal responsibilities.

Are tenants required to be informed by their landlords or rental agencies of the contamination and precautions required to prevent ingestion?

Are those such as plumbers etc being given adequate information regarding the risks and precautions that should be taken to prevent exposure while working in the affected area.

Are high risk residents in the Investigation Area being considered as to minimising their exposure to the contaminate.

The class action by Shine Lawyers is possibly the largest in Australia to date and this will pale into insignificance once the Lavarack Barracks class action(s) starts. Townsville has had more than its share of hard knocks over the past couple of years, it is well beyond time that as a community that issues such as this are confronted head on and not ignored as if it disappear by itself.

KEVIN PARKES, West End.