Canberra residential unit tested positive for asbestos
A Canberra unit complex has tested positive for asbestos-contaminated mulch, as authorities work to track down more affected sites. Meanwhile, businesses which potentially supplied the material are urging the government to provide more help.
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00:00 A monumental problem for a small business.
00:06 We've closed a lot of sections.
00:07 A lot of our staff now are working with contact bases of clients, making sure that we've all
00:13 got the support, that clients have support.
00:17 It's been a major impact for our business and a small business at the moment.
00:23 Things are, yeah.
00:25 Stonehenge Beltana in Pialago unwittingly purchased the cottage mulch from the same
00:31 supplier linked to bonded asbestos contamination across Sydney.
00:35 Bit of a shock, yeah, yeah.
00:38 You know, recycled product, you think all the procedures are in place.
00:43 They are not alone.
00:45 WorkSafe ACT now says at least 29 prohibition notices have or will be issued, 10 businesses
00:52 are potentially affected and one residential complex tested positive to bonded asbestos
00:57 this morning with around 70 cubic metres of contaminated mulch on site, around a fifth
01:03 of the material believed to be in the ACT.
01:06 We will see more residents in the ACT impacted.
01:11 The amount is not clear right now but it won't be as widespread as it is in New South Wales.
01:19 In Sydney, the number of contaminated sites is continuing to grow, including in Roselle
01:25 where the higher risk friable or unbonded material has been found.
01:29 In the ACT, testing has so far turned up only bonded asbestos.
01:34 Authorities have directed that the mulch be isolated in place either with a barricade
01:38 or taped off like behind me here and it's certainly not to be handled, disturbed or
01:43 disposed of.
01:44 And as long as it is left alone, it poses low risk.
01:49 WorkSafe says its priority now is confirming exactly where all the contaminated mulch ended
01:54 up.
01:55 For affected residents and businesses like Stonehenge, it's an anxious wait.
02:00 If we can just get as much help as we can from WorkSafe and the ACT government, just
02:05 to make sure that we can get this acted upon as quickly as we can.
02:09 Anyone who purchased cottage mulch from affected suppliers since March last year is urged to
02:14 contact WorkSafe.
02:15 [BLANK_AUDIO]