Williamtown residents who have settled a class action with the federal government over the impact of per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination will have to wait until next month before they find out how much they will receive.
Lawyers for the residents and the government argued against disclosing the overall compensation figure during a case management hearing in the Federal Court on Monday because details of how the funds will be distributed were still being worked through.
Justice Michael Lee said he did not have a problem disclosing the amount, however, agreed to the lawyers' request.
The figure is expected to be revealed when the matter returns to court on April 6.
An administrator has been appointed to assess individual losses and distribute settlements.
Williamtown residents were the first to launch a Federal Court class action against the Department of Defence in 2016 on the basis that their livelihoods and property values had been severely affected by toxic chemicals leaching into ground and surface water.
Residents in Oakey in Queensland and Katherine in the Northern Territory launched their own claims soon afterwards.
After two days of intense mediation talks lawyers representing the communities reached an in-principle agreement to settle the class action late on Wednesday.
The parties are still working through the details of costs.
