Forde asbestos dump
Mar 18, 2009
Asbestos has been found near a footpath, a children’s playground and a picnic area in the Heritage Park in Forde.
The location of the potentially hazardous material was reported to the ACT Government’s services line, Canberra Connect on March 4. The material was confirmed by city rangers as two large sheets of compressed asbestos on March 5, however it was not removed from the park until March 10. During this time no efforts were made to prevent people coming into contact with the asbestos.
Minister for Transport and Municipal Services Jon Stanhope said he had been advised that city rangers did not believe a fence was appropriate because the material was in an area not commonly used by the public. “Signs were already present stating that the area was a construction zone. The material had also been present for some time and was untouched,” he said.
Allan Flynn, a Gungahlin resident, first alerted The Chronicle to the asbestos and then he saw it again on Saturday, March 7. He said he had not seen any signs separating the new park from the bushland or the new subdivision. “There are many families and children using the area, especially on weekends, which is close to the Forde display centre and playground,” he said. “If the material is dangerous enough to warrant public control isn’t it dangerous enough to also protect kids from it?”
A naturally occurring mineral fibre, asbestos was widely used in building materials until 1985. The use of all forms of asbestos was banned nationally in December 2003, after it was discovered that high-level exposure could cause diseases including cancer.
Mr Flynn believed the playground had been built on the site of a previous farm. “It appears the asbestos was accidentally left on the site following demolition of original buildings, rather than being illegally dumped. I wonder if the superintendent or some other authority certified that the material was thoroughly removed from the site?” he said.
Mr Stanhope said illegally dumped waste, in particular dangerous waste such as asbestos, posed many risks to the community. “We introduced a Bill to create tougher anti-dumping laws in the Assembly late last year,” he said. “The new legislation, which comes into effect later this year, aims to deter individuals and companies from illegal dumping by creating tougher penalties.”
ACT Greens spokeswoman for Transport and Municipal Services Caroline Le Couteur said the Bill has been passed, with the support of the Greens, however she did not think increasing penalties would deter illegal dumping. “People aren’t concerned about these penalties,” she said. “People don’t think they will get caught.” Ms Le Couteur said part of the reason people dumped waste illegally was because they didn’t want to pay the fees to dispose of it in a legal way.
In the ACT property owners are responsible for removal of asbestos from their own properties. Asbestos can be disposed at the Mugga Lane Small Vehicle Transfer Station and the Mitchell Resource Management Centre, but must be double wrapped in heavy duty plastic.
Domestic loads made up of asbestos waste exclusively are charged at a minimum rate of $28.50 and large commercial and domestic loads range from $28.50 for 250kg or less up to $115 per tonne. “Fees on dumping unfortunately encourage people to dump illegally, that’s the reality,” Ms Le Couteur said. “The government’s approach, increasing penalties, is not likely to be successful. I think it would probably be cheaper for the government to forego these fees than remove the asbestos that had been dumped illegally.”
Mr Flynn said while the government probably had adequate laws around the issue of dumping, he suspected they were not very thoroughly enforced.
Mr Stanhope said anyone who had knowledge of illegal dumping should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and waste dumped on unleased land should be reported to Canberra Connect on 13 22 81.
Source: The Northside Chronicle – 17 March 2009.
The Chronicle is published by The Federal Capital Press Pty Ltd - 9 Pirie Street, Fyshwick.
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