Tamworth council wants federal government answers on PFAS contamination

The airport is one of dozens of sites across the nation where elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) have been detected. PFAS chemicals are commonly found in the foam used in Australian Defence Force fire-fighting drills; however, the organisation refuses to accept any liability.

Cr Russell Webb has called on the council to prepare a report about the local contamination situation, to “see what the next step is”.

Cr Webb hopes to pressure the federal government into some form of action.

“When the government agency that’s been investigating it suggests that people who live [in the contamination zone] shouldn’t grow or eat their own vegetables, that tells me they’ve identified a real risk,” Cr Webb said.

“The government needs to start making decisions on how to manage and rehabilitate the contaminated sites. More importantly, we need to push the government towards how it will reimburse people for any losses they’ve incurred.”

Cr Webb said residents in the contamination zone, such as those along Wallamore Road, were concerned about the value of their property. 

“In the event that people want to put their property on the market, they’re going to find it very difficult to sell with this PFAS hanging over their head,” he said.

“They’re our residents, and we need to stand up and fight for their rights.”

So far the council has been left almost $150,000 out of pocket from testing and containing the PFAS contamination at the airport. It has called on the federal government to cover the cost, but the request has been ignored.