By Ben Cameron
Further asbestos has been found at a building site in Cairnlea.
The Environment Protection Authority said in a statement on Wednesday that building sheet fragments in rubble dumped at 93 Furlong Road contains asbestos.
The EPA had given the all clear at the site earlier this week following “unannounced works” last Friday by the site owners.
However EPA Executive Director of Regional Service Damian Wells said a further inspection this week found further asbestos.
“As a precaution, EPA officers inspected the site to conduct a walk-through and visually identified some material that resembled asbestos sheet fragments, which was surprising and of concern given the asbestos clearance letter that we’d received from the company last Friday evening,” he said.
“EPA’s test results have now confirmed these fragments are asbestos.”
WorkSafe attended the site yesterday and has asked the site owner to take new measures to reduce the risk to the community, the EPA say.
The EPA has demanded the site owner to maintain signage at the site advising asbestos is present and ensure there are controls in place to prevent stormwater discharge.
They must also inform a local primary school and surrounding residents before any asbestos material is removed, and conduct daily inspections that the rubble remains covered.
“The risk to community remains extremely low and the actions we’ve taken are a precaution to give the community confidence that they’re protected from any harm,” he said.
The site owner has been given several weeks to remove all waste from the site.
Brimbank council, which is considering legal action against the owners, will hold information session tomorrow night at the Cairnlea Town Centre shopping centre, on Furlong Road, from 4pm to 7pm.
