The official probe began in March through environmental consultant, Coffey, after a preliminary report found PFAS chemicals used in fire fighting foams had escaped and were contaminating the town’s water supply.

The finished report is not expected to be released until after April next year.

In the case of the further advanced investigation into the PFAS leak at the Williamtown RAAF Base, the NSW Government has establish an expert committee to keep tabs on the results.

It was the results provided to that committee earlier this month which led to quick action to door knock 250 more residents to advise they were also at risk.

Some of those results showed that unless the department could clean up the leak, the Williamtown contamination zone would exist at its current level until at least 2050.

The NT Government does not have an equivalent expert watchdog which is chaired in NSW by its chief science officer.

Katherine MLA Sandra Nelson said the Defence Department provides results to the Government’s PFAS Interagency Steering Committee.

That committee includes bureaucrats from EPA, Health, Power and Water, Primary Industry and Resources, Police and the department of the Chief Minister.

The Katherine Times asked Ms Nelson whether the NT Government should follow the example of the NSW Government and have its own independent scientific panel to monitor results.

“The NT Government currently relies on expert national guidance and advice,” Ms Nelson said.

Some details from the human health risk report, which is part of the wider study, are to be released in January.

“Defence recognises the desire of the Katherine community to understand the potential impact of PFAS as soon as possible, Defence will conduct an interim HHRA that will be available before the comprehensive HHRA to provide early information on potential ways PFAS may impact human health,” defence has said.

“The purpose of the interim HHRA is evaluate the potential human health risks to residents with the greatest exposure potential. The interim HHRA is intended to provide an estimate of the likely outcomes of the comprehensive HHRA, which will take longer to complete.”

Monday’s meeting in Katherine will be held at Knotts Crossing between 5-7pm.

The Coffey investigation has already taken almost 1000  samples across 530 locations, 100 of these have been at residential properties.

“A further 1210 samples are expected to be collected by the end of the investigation in early 2018,” defence said.

Defence is also opening a Community Shopfront at Shop 4, Katherine Shopping Centre on Tuesday and Wednesday to provide one-on-one information on the environmental investigation.