Group looks at taking on RMS over highway dam claim

ABOVE: The community meeting at Woodburn Hall. Photo: Susanna Freymark

STORY by Susanna Freymark

“We don’t want litigation. It costs millions and takes six years,” Nick Crouch said at the community meeting at Woodburn Hall last night, Sunday, July 3.

Mr Crouch is a solicitor and liquidator, whose Ballina shop was flooded. He was speaking at the meeting organised by Save Our River Towns (SORT).

About 150 people were at the hall to hear what Mr Crouch had to say about the possibility of a class action against Roads and Maritime Services for any negative impact the new Pacific Highway had on surrounding land during the floods.

A Current Affair filmed the meeting.

Taking the litigation road would not be easy or quick, Mr Crouch said.

“We need a hydrology report to see if the highway had an impact,” Mr Crouch said.

He had a message for Roads and Maritime Services: “If you’ve stuffed the road up, put your hand up.”

Mr Crouch said the chances of a successful class action depended on several factors.

It would need at least 5000 people as a collective to litigate against the RMS.

Plus one or two independent hydrology reports. Those reports would go to a QC specialising in environmental law to assess whether the case was strong enough.

Just that part of the process could take a year, Mr Crouch said.

He suggested a group of eight volunteers could get the word out and engage more people with the process.

Mr Crouch suggested contacting the State’s Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation for $5000–$10,000 to help get the word out and improve the sort.org.au website to help people sign up.

Others suggested contacting MPs for support.

Someone asked what towns could be part of SORT.

Doonbah mushroom farmer Kylie O’Reilly stood up.

“We’re not looking after (just) one group. I’m looking after flood affected,” she said.

Farmer Tony Carusi said, “the flood has defined who needs to be looked after”.

The group wasn’t just about litigation, Ms O’Reilly said.

“The word litigation scares people,” she said.

She suggested two or three people from each town come together once a month and keep it moving forward.

The meeting ended with a queue of people signing up to be notified of further meetings, many promising to bring more people.

It wasn’t totally clear what would happen in future, but it was clear that, as a group, residents had a louder voice and more chance of recovering their lives and homes.

Nick Crouch spoke at the meeting. Photo: Susanna Freymark

Find out more at sort.org.au

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