Grantham residents welcome Qld Health investigation
Grantham residents welcome Qld Health investigation
Residents who are concerned floodwater in Grantham made them sick have welcomed a Queensland Health investigation into their fears of a possible cancer cluster in the area.
One cancer patient, who has been told he has months to live, wants the investigation widened.
Peter Van Straten, 67, has been given just six months to live without treatment, and 18 months with treatment.
“The floodwater hasn't stopped killing us, it's still got some killing to do,” he said.
Peter and his wife Marie were in thier house when it washed off its stumps in the 2011 flood.
They were in the water for hours.
Peter is convinced the flood water contributed to his illness.
He and other residents claim it was contaminated with old chemicals washed out of farm sheds.
Locals say at least 10 people in Grantham have been diagnosed with cancer since the flood.
Sometimes I think the people who were lucky were the ones that died that day… they didn't have to go through all this rubbish we're going through,” Mr Van Staten said.
Peter has leukemia and melanoma, while his wife Marie was diagnosed with breast cancer.
"On her Birthday they called her up and said, congratulations, you've got cancer,” Mr Van Staten said.
When Seven News exposed residents concerns earlier this week, Queensland Health launched an investigation.
“At least now they have resources out there,” Marie told 7News.
Peter also wants an independent investigation so they can find out what is making them sick.
"All the affected farms should be soil tested,” he said.
“So our children and grandchildren are protected from this rubbish.”
Others are just glad and grateful their concerns about Grantham are being looked into.
"I'm thankful they have listened to our concerns and taken up this issue,” Marty Warburton said.
Residents say since they came forward to share their stories, they have heard from dozens of others who say they have experienced health problems, since the flood.
"There's more out there than have even been highlighted,” Mr Warburton said.
