Member for Wagga Joe McGirr has thrown his support behind residents who are fighting for answers from the Department of Defence over toxic chemicals that have contaminated their properties.
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San Isidore residents are anxiously awaiting the results of a Defence investigation into the potential exposure risks from PFAS that has leached out of the Kapooka army base.
The Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (HHERA) was due to be completed by the end of 2020 but it has been delayed by more than six months, with no definite date for its release.
The Daily Advertiser has contacted Defence on three separate occasions asking for an update but has received no response.
Dr McGirr believes the delay is causing "a lot of distress" among residents of the quiet rural suburb and has called on Defence to consider acquiring the affected properties.
Per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in certain firefighting foam that in April was banned for all training and demonstration purposes in NSW, but which was widely used across Australia until the 1990s.
The Department of Health maintains there is little evidence that exposure to PFAS causes adverse health effects.
Tom Hughes is one resident who has joined calls for answers from Defence after PFAS was detected on his property because he fears he, his family and his neighbours could be at risk.
"They said this report is coming out and nothing happens and they don't contact anybody. We're kept in the dark," Mr Hughes said.
"I think it's time someone responds to our questions. It's frustrating to think the taxpayer spent all this money on having the inspections done and yet we can't get any feedback at all."
Mr Hughes says he has been waiting fruitlessly by the phone for someone from the Kapooka barracks to contact him.
"In relation to the PFAS my thoughts on that is they're trying to do their best to hide it so other people might not consider taking action if they knew the truth," he said.
He consented to have a Defence-commissioned company test his property as part of a 2019 investigation that found a "potential unacceptable risk" to the health of residents living near to Kapooka Creek who ate homegrown produce irrigated with surface water.
The results prompted Defence to order the HHERA, but in the meantime they have significantly reduced the value of some of the properties in the area.
Dr McGirr said this was creating "mental anguish" for affected homeowners and that Defence should "at the very least" provide compensation to make up the price difference.
Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said Defence would brief him once the HHERA was completed.
"The wellbeing of the local community is a priority and my office will continue to work with affected landholders and Defence to provide advice and assistance as quickly as possible," he said.