A PAYOUT from the red zone class-action lawsuit will not be enough to save Anita Bugges' dream farm on Nelson Bay Rd, Williamtown.
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Fearing for her family's health in 2016, Ms Bugges drove away from the 25-acre property she bought ten years before for $899,000.
For several years she has been fighting to stave off foreclosure after learning that if the Commonwealth Bank took possession of her property it ruled her out of the class action.
Mrs Bugges said regardless of the payout, there was nothing that would save the farm because the debt had spiralled after she fled the red zone and was forced to rent.
"The bank said it wouldn't foreclose until the settlement of the class action, but even this settlement won't be enough to save the property," she said.
"I'll lose the property regardless because they have been charging almost 20 per cent interest on the arrears."
Ms Bugges has owned property since the age of 23, and was living at Williamtown with her daughter Michaela and grandson Tristan.
She bought the farm in 2007, well after Defence was aware of the contamination.
The family had built the property with 19 stables into a small horse business. They never missed a payment on the loan.
A single parent who worked for 40 years to save for the farm, Ms Bugges said any dream of owning her own home was gone.
She said any money received from the class action would go to assist her daughter who is battling health problems linked to contamination.
"All I can hope for now is getting enough money to make things easier over the next couple of years for my family," she said.
"There are still so many unanswered questions. It looks like we've had a win, but i'm waiting to see what's in the fine print."
