Fiskville victims to be compensated

By Lachlan Ellis

The State Government has announced a $57 million scheme to support those exposed to toxic substances at the former CFA Training College at Fiskville in Moorabool Shire, with both financial compensation and non-financial support to be offered.

The announcement of the Fiskville Redress Scheme comes almost seven and a half years after the facility at Fiskville was closed, after high levels of the toxic chemical PFOS were detected.

Tests at the Fiskville Training College showed PFOS levels around the training area ranged from less than 1 microgram per litre, to as high as 50 micrograms per litre.

International guidelines for safe drinking water suggest a maximum of 0.2 micrograms per litre, and 4 micrograms per litre for non-drinking water.

A 2014 report by Monash University found that “when compared to the Victorian populations and to the Australian-born Victorian population, the overall cancer risk was significantly higher” for those with a high level of exposure to the Fiskville training site.

The Fiskville Redress Scheme will provide mental health support, medical support, and counselling to those who need it, with financial compensation of up to $45,000 offered to those exposed.

Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes said further payments may be offered to those who contracted an illness attributable to their time at Fiskville.

“Today is an important milestone, as we announce much-needed support those who have been affected by their time at Fiskville and acknowledge the harm caused to them and the community,” Ms Symes said at last Friday’s announcement.

“Many are still dealing with the physical and mental effects of their time at Fiskville – today is about acknowledging that service in the name of keeping Victorians safe and the severe consequences that came from that.”

Ballan CFA volunteer Ian Ireland said the redress scheme was long overdue, and he hoped more could be done for those impacted by Fiskville.

“It’s a step in the right direction…but does it require limits? Everyone’s circumstances are different. I know some people have been really badly affected by it, and yet we’re putting a limit on what they can get, by saying there’s $45,000 if you had high exposure,” Mr Ireland told the Moorabool News.

“It’s affected our local community, businesses, living standards and things like that. Some people, one minute they’ve got a job, next minute they haven’t. Closing Fiskville put 80 people out of work, and while some of those have been lucky and been re-employed by FRV or CFA, but a big percentage haven’t.

“I would hope there’s more to be done. It’s easy to say we’ll pay people out, but that doesn’t resolve the fact there’s no employment for many people. There’s nothing wrong with the facility at Fiskville, they could quite easily use it for volunteer use.”

Mr Ireland added that he “doesn’t think you can put a price on people’s wellbeing”.

“To say we’re allocating $57 million, that’s lovely in figures, but it doesn’t bring back loved ones, or people that have needed help in the past,” he said.

People who worked or trained at Fiskville, lived at or near the facility, or attended the Fiskville State School between 1972 and 2015, will be among those encouraged to apply for the redress scheme, which will open for applications on Monday 5 September.

For more information on the Fiskville Redress Scheme or to register your interest, visit www.vic.gov.au/redress-fiskville.