General News
20 December, 2024
Big ideas for PFAS-affected land
Local stakeholders say they would like to see a Federal-Government supported local working group guide the development of PFAS-affected land near the Oakey Army Aviation Base.
A proposed Oakey working group was the last and only one of 19 recommendations from an Independent Review into land uses around Defence bases not agreed to by the Federal Government.
Dr Eric Donaldson is one of landholders who has plans to develop his PFAS-affected land. He believes a working group should be established, with the support of the State Government and Toowoomba Regional Council.
“I believe that the last recommendation should have been an agreed recommendation,” he said.
“I’d like to see a small committee with the Chamber of Commerce, with the support of the State Government, and Toowoomba Regional Council to handle the information coming to hand about Oakey and land use.
Oakey Urban Landcare (OUL) operates on Dr Donaldson’s land and is seeking to develop the land to expand its koala habitat.
OUL Group spokesperson Trevor Cockburn said the group had worked hard to develop the PFAS-affected land to protect local koalas.
“Oakey needs a bigger and better koala habitat,” he said.
“We’d also like to plant ornamental eucalypts for a tourist attraction.
Mr Cockburn said Oakey could benefit from the Review’s findings.
“As people, we’ve got to meet together and try and do something positive,” he said.
Condamine MP Pat Weir said he would support the establishment of an Oakey working group under the new National PFAS Coordinating Body.
He disputed the Government’s comment in response that it would ‘continue’ to engage with the states and territories, saying he had no contact with the current Federal Government over the PFAS issue.
At a recent press conference announcing the Williamtown working group, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh said the Federal Government needed the support of Toowoomba Regional Council and the State Government to start an Oakey working group.
“We’ve got to engage with the state governments and local governments there before we can progress that,” he said.
“So it’s really just a matter of working through those details with them which we’re going to do.”
Toowoomba Regional Council said last week it would be guided by the State and Federal Governments.
Pat Weir recently met with the Landcare Group at the Oakey Urban Landcare Centre to hear the group’s request for support to maintain and develop its koala habitat on Oakey-Kelvinhaugh Road, on land owned by Dr Donaldson.
Mr Weir and other experts said Dr Donaldson’s ideas for the site seemed sound, and recommended drawing up a master plan for the site.
