The judge who will rule on the PFAS class action settlement between Williamtown residents and the federal government has invited any class action members who are dissatisfied with the proposed compensation deal to make their views known to the court.
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Federal Court Judge Michael Lee made an order on Monday for noticies to be sent to class action members advising the settlement terms and the process for distributing the compensation.
Similar notices will also be sent to residents in Oakey, Queensland and Katherine in the Northern Territory where settlements were also reached.
Lawyers representing the three communities reached a proposed $212.5 million settlement with the government in late February for compensation for the loss of property values.
Williamtown residents received $86million, Oakley residents $34million and Katherine residents $92.5million.
Costs for the Williamtown class action are expected to be about 37 per cent of the community's settlement. By comparison, almost half of the Oakey community's settlement will be taken in costs.
While individual compensation amounts will vary, the court heard one Williamtown property had lost 20 per cent of its value as a result of PFAS contamination.
Justice Lee said he hoped compensation would flow through to members without undue delay.
However, an amicus - a independent barrister who would represent the interests of class action members - may be appointed if objections to the proposed settlement required further scrutiny by the court.
"I don't want to dissuade people from putting in a notice of objection," Justice Lee said.
Williamtown class action member Rob Roseworn has already written to the court to request that the lawyers be sent back to the negotiating table.
A hearing for approval of the terms of settlement will be held on June 4 and 5. Objectors to the settlement may also be heard at that time.
The court will also consider a proposed $20,000 payment to each of the steering committee members for the time they had spent assisting in the preparation of the class action.
A spokesman for the lawyers representing the Williamtown class action said the committee members had each invested hundreds of hours on the case.
"The legal team representing the Williamtown class members are concerned by the extent of uninformed commentary by a handful of people that seems to be taking place prior to receipt of these notices," he said.
"Such commentary has impacted unduly and unfairly on the Williamtown class action steering committee who have represented the interests of the Williamtown and surrounds communities during this long-running matter.
"From day one of this issue, residents on this steering committee have worked tirelessly and unselfishly for their community. That included robust and regular discussions about strategy and approach during the course of over 150 teleconferences with the legal team as well as conducting over 500 media interviews locally and nationally on behalf of the community.
"The importance of the work performed by the steering committee to assist the legal team cannot be underestimated and we thank them for their support.
"We know they have the support and thanks of the vast majority of their community and others around Australia that they've helped and supported on PFAS contamination.
"Their determination and resilience is remarkable and that deserves to be acknowledged.The legal team requests that any further issues with the settlement be raised through the appropriate court approved process, details of which will be set out it the Notices this week."
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