The state government will roll out asbestos testing across Sunshine North in the wake of an investigation that has linked the site of the former Wunderlich factory on McIntyre Road to more than 20 asbestos exposure cases.
Victoria’s acting chief health officer Professor Michael Ackland said an independent environmental hygienist, overseen by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), would test a number of sites near the former asbestos factory to ascertain possible levels of asbestos in roof spaces, soil and air in living areas.
The EPA will also re-test the 10 properties that were reported last week to be linked with asbestos.
A Victorian Cancer Registry report revealed there were 16 cases of mesothelioma within a 2-kilometre radius of the Sunshine North site between 2001 and 2013.
Slater and Gordon lawyer Margaret Kent said a further eight past and present Sunshine North residents had become seriously ill with asbestos-related diseases.
Professor Ackland said none of these cases related to recent exposure to asbestos – with exposure most likely to be related to the time when the factory was operating prior to the 1980s.
“We still need to establish how many of the mesothelioma cases were former workers at the factory and whether any are community members without a direct link to the factory,” he said.
“Any case of mesothelioma is a tragedy and at this time we acknowledge the concerns many in the community may have about this issue.”
Professor Ackland called on any residents with health concerns to visit their GP, and warned residents not to enter their roofs to avoid potential asbestos exposure.
The state government is holding a community meeting this Thursday between 4pm and 7pm at Victoria University Convention Centre, Ballarat Road, Sunshine.
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