The Williamtown Working Group is overseen by the PFAS National Coordinating Body. 

The Williamtown Working Group will progress local initiatives, including a whole-of-catchment flood action plan, to improve drainage management in areas south of RAAF Base Williamtown.

The establishment of the Williamtown Working Group is a practical step forward in delivering local solutions for those impacted by PFAS contamination in Williamtown.

The first Williamtown Working Group meeting was held on 20 November 2025, and meetings will be held regularly over the next 12 months.

Members

The National Coordinating Body endorsed the community members selected, following an expression of interest process which closed 3 October 2025.

• Ms Meryl Swanson MP – Member for Paterson, NSW
• Ms Kate Washington MP – Member for Port Stephens
• Mayor Leah Anderson – Mayor of Port Stephens Council
• Mr John Maretich – Port Stephens Council
• Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council
• Department of Defence
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• NSW Environment Protection Authority
• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW Government
• Hunter Water Corporation
• Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme
• NSW Health
• NSW Planning
• Mr Lindsay Clout – community member
• Mr Justin Hamilton – community member
• Ms Susan Hirsch – community member
• Mr Andrew Slade – community member.

Meetings

The next meeting placeholder is 30 March 2026.

Key updates from meeting held on 29 January 2026:

• Defence presented the outcomes of the field inspection of the Williamtown drainage network held in December 2025. The information collected will be used to refine the flood model and inform short, medium and long term management options to mitigate flooding.
• Defence outlined several proposed short term actions to improve water flow across the area, with medium and long term actions to be developed. Short term options are being further developed by Defence in consultation with group members.
• The group will work with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority to review the areas included in the PFAS Broader Management Zone. Defence is providing further data to support the work and the group expects some further advice from the NSW EPA in late July 2026.
• The group agreed to develop and publish plain English advice on the prospects of remediation for low level PFAS contamination in the PFAS management area. Draft advice will be presented to the group in March 2026.

Key updates from meeting held on 20 November 2025:

• Members agreed to the Terms of Reference and the Work Plan to progress actions to mitigate PFAS contamination from RAAF Base Williamtown.
• Defence presented the approach to develop a flood action plan to support improved coordination and management of the local drainage network. This flood action plan is due for completion by September 2026. Implementation of agreed actions from the work plan by owners of drainage infrastructure will improve the performance and maintenance of the drainage network. On 11 December 2025, several Williamtown Working Group members attended a field inspection of drains south of RAAF Base Williamtown, to validate current mapping of the drains and discharge points.