Shine Lawyers is pursuing justice for property owners in Wodonga whose land has been contaminated by PFAS chemicals used by the Bandiana Military Area.
About the Wodonga 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’.
The class action alleges that the Department of Defence negligently allowed these toxic chemicals to escape from the Bandiana Military Area, and contaminate local environments. These contaminants have negatively impacted properties, land values and the livelihoods of the Wodonga community.
Shine Lawyers has filed a class action to seek compensation for Wodonga property owners who have suffered loss in their property value due to contamination caused by the Bandiana Military Area.
The ADF finalised a detailed site investigation report of the Bandiana Military Area in September 2018, with results detecting PFAS in surface water and ground water on-base. A number of potential PFAS source areas were identified on-base, including the Former Fire Fighting Ground and the current Fire Station, with levels of PFAS detected in ground water and surface water being above guidance values. The report also identified other potential sources of PFAS contamination, which included the Albury Airport and the Wodonga Fire Station.
Important Notice
The Wodonga PFAS Contamination Class Action does not include personal injury claims for exposure to the PFAS contamination. The adverse health effects of exposure to PFAS chemicals, and the viability of a class action will continue to be investigated. Class actions such as this have been run in other countries around the world for both defence force personnel and communities.
How to register for the Wodonga PFAS Contamination Class Action
If your property is located in the Wodonga contamination investigation area, and was owned by you on 1st October 2016, you are encouraged to register for this class action so that you may seek the compensation you are entitled to.
To register for the Wodonga PFAS Contamination Class Action, you have two options:
Opting out of the Class Action
If you do not wish to be a part of the PFAS Contamination Class Action, you have the option to opt out by 4:00pm (Sydney time) on 30 September 2020. By opting out you will lose a right to any compensation awarded out of the class action, however you can still bring an individual claim against the Department of Defence.
Other communities that are part of the PFAS Contamination Class Action
After successfully achieving justice for the Oakey and Katherine communities, Shine Lawyers are now seeking compensation for similarly contaminated areas surrounding Defence bases across Australia, including Bullsbrook, Darwin, Edinburgh, Richmond, Townsville and Wagga Wagga.
Case Documents
Court Notice to Register in the Class Action or Opt Out - Wodonga (VIC)Opt Out NoticeStatement of Claim
Contact Us
If you have any questions or require any assistance in registering for the class action, please contact our Wodonga PFAS Contamination Class Action team on 1800 066 173.
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:
