Page 5049 - Week 13 - Thursday, 12 November 2009
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1980’s) the two types of asbestos are bonded asbestos and friable asbestos. In addressing issues of concern from homeowners the ACT Planning and Land Authority (ACTPLA) would establish what type of material the homeowner is concerned about.
Friable (loose) asbestos is the higher risk of the two materials and can only be removed by a licensed class A asbestos removalist. Bonded asbestos is the lower risk material and can be removed by a person in a prescribed occupation who has undertaken a course in asbestos awareness if the amount of the material is less than 10sqm. Where there is more than 10sqm the removal can be undertaken by a Class B or a Class A asbestos removalist. A list of all licensed removalists is available on the ACTPLA website.
(4) ACTPLA will advise home owners to seek the advice of either a licensed asbestos removalist or a licensed asbestos assessor before undertaking any work on their home.
(5) In the event that a residential home is assessed as having loose friable asbestos the homeowner will be directed to the Office of Industrial Relations within the Chief Ministers Department who has a process in place for addressing the removal of friable asbestos.
Where the person reporting the asbestos is the owner of the property it is usual for that person to pay for the costs of testing of material to determine if it contains asbestos. The role of the ORS and ACTPLA is to ensure that material containing asbestos is removed and disposed of in accordance with the legislated requirements. It would not be normal practice for the ORS to require the person reporting the asbestos, where that person is not the property owner, to pay for the costs of testing.
(6) In the instance surrounding the Rankin St Campbell demolition site, an inspector had previously inspected the area and taken a sample from another resident in the street to the ACT Health test facility, which came back negative for asbestos. Samples of other material from that site have since proven positive for asbestos and ORS is working with the property owner, ACTPLA and an environmental hygienist to manage this situation. ACTPLA is conducting an investigation into irregularities with respect to the building approval process.
The circumstances of this matter are currently the subject of an ongoing investigation by the ORS and ACTPLA. Given the status of the investigation it would not be appropriate to provide further detail at this time.
Environment—energy efficiency ratings
(Question No 382)
Ms Le Couteur asked the Minister for Planning, upon notice, on 15 October 2009:
(1) What is the progress of the Government’s May 2009 discussion paper on the auditing of energy efficiency ratings, and will the results be released soon.
(2) What are the next steps being taken on this issue by the ACT Planning and Land Authority.
Mr Barr: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
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