Shine Lawyers has initiated a class action for the Wreck Bay community for the chemical contamination of soil and groundwater in and around Jervis Bay Territory. The class action alleges that the contamination was a result of the Department of Defence using firefighting foam containing per- and poly- fluoroalkyls substances (PFAS) at HMAS Creswell and the Jervis Bay Range Facility.
About the Jervis Bay PFAS Contamination Class Action
From the 1970s to at least 2004, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) regularly conducted firefighting drills using a type of firefighting foam known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam. This foam consists of toxic chemicals known as ‘PFAS’.
This class action is for members of the Wreck Bay community who own, or have owned property in Wreck Bay on or before 1 September 2016. The claim is to compensate eligible persons for the PFAS contamination in Jervis Bay which has negatively impacted properties, land values, livelihoods and the cultural practices of the Wreck Bay community.
The ADF commenced a detailed site investigation at HMAS Creswell and Jervis Bay Range Facility in March 2017, with the results detecting PFAS in surface water, groundwater and sediment around the base. The report found widespread PFAS contamination in groundwater both on and off-base, exceeding health-based recommendations for drinking water.
Investigation Area
As part of their investigation, the Department of Defence has released a map identifying the investigation area. Download the map
Important Notice
The Jervis Bay PFAS Contamination Class Action does not include personal injury claims for exposure to the PFAS contamination.
Can I join the Jervis Bay PFAS Contamination Class Action?
You are encouraged to register for this class action if you meet the following conditions:
- A registered member of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council (WBACC)
- A spouse or descendant of a former or current member of the WBACC.
- You must have been part of one of the above categories on 1 September 2016.
If you answered yes to the above, you may be entitled to compensation, and you are encouraged to register for the Jervis Bay PFAS Contamination Class Action.
How to register for the Jervis Bay PFAS Contamination Class Action
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Who is Shine Lawyers’ Class Action team?
Shine Lawyers’ Class Action team includes some of the firm’s most experienced solicitors and support staff. The team includes: