But trade has slowed since early September when news of contamination at the Williamtown air force base began to trickle out, and bookings have dried up for his traditionally busiest period, Christmas, since his property fell within the expanded contamination red zone, the Newcastle Herald reports. Scum and froth are visible in the contaminated water at Moors Drain, near the Williamtown RAAF base. Credit:Max Mason-Hubers His property is one of dozens caught up in a water contamination scandal centred on the base at Williamtown. Potentially toxic chemicals associated with firefighting have been detected in creeks, rivers, bores and ponds around the air force site, and residents have been advised not to drink bore water or use it in food preparation. NSW Health said the perfluorinated compounds were present in high concentrations in some areas around the site. "Whether (chemical) causes adverse health effects in humans is currently unknown, but on current evidence, the potential for adverse health outcomes cannot be excluded," a NSW Health fact sheet says.

"Absolute zero hits at every level," Mr Roseworne said. Rob Roseworne at Moors Drain, the main conduit for the spread of contamination, on Wednesday. Credit:Max Mason-Hubers "It says no purchaser would buy into here while this is hanging over our heads," he said. "There is no market value where there is no market for what you're selling. Our lives are on hold and we're at the mercy of government departments that are pushing at their own pace." Mr Roseworne's property has two bores that until now have provided the water to clean his kennels and maintain his garden. "The dogs have only ever had tank water for drinking," Mr Roseworne said. "Now I've got to carry buckets of water from the tank to the kennel for the daily cleaning, and of course that means having to buy more tank water."

At a meeting on Tuesday of 10 Salt Ash residents within the contamination zone, more than half said they would sell up and leave if they could, mainly because of fears for their children's health. "I feel like maybe I've exposed my children to this for all this time. There's a hell of a lot of guilt with that which doesn't seem to be registering with those responsible for dealing with this," Mr Roseworne said. At Tuesday's meeting, residents were angered by the slow pace of promised testing, but worried about what results might show. "I was contacted to say my place would be tested on Monday, but no one came. "I waited all Tuesday, but nothing. That's not the way to treat people who are suddenly in a situation like this through no fault of their own," Mr Roseworne said.

Valuer Mal Harrison, who valued Mr Roseworne's property in 2012 and again this week, said the "absolute zero" assessment reflected the fact that "if he tried to sell that property there wouldn't be a buyer for it". "That's the reality, and it's causing a lot of grief in the community," Mr Harrison said. Port Stephens mayor Bruce MacKenzie, who owns two farms in the contamination zone at Salt Ash and Williamtown, has eight bores that he planned to have tested, about 500 black Angus cattle, sheep and chickens. There was "no doubt" property prices would drop if bore water was found to be contaminated because "it will always be there". "If the Defence Department is proven to be negligent, of course there should be compensation for landowners and businesses."

The contamination scandal had had "nil impact on my bottom line". "My family will be pushing on as if nothing has happened. The properties are a good part of our livelihood, but there are other things that would support us. "Everyone knows we sell sand. "Unfortunately, not everyone would be in that position and Defence needs to make sure people are treated fairly and compensated if they lose out." Despite warnings against using bore water until it was tested, Mr MacKenzie said he continued to use it.