Page 2814 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 14 August 2018
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annual statement on asbestos-related work in the territory. Over the past 12 months a significant amount of asbestos-related work has been undertaken in the territory to ensure the safety of residents, workers and those within our schools. In particular, the asbestos response task force, WorkSafe ACT and the Education Directorate have been at the forefront of this work.
The presence of loose-fill asbestos insulation in our suburbs has had significant social, financial and emotional impacts on the owners, tenants and family and friends of the over 1,000 Mr Fluffy properties in the ACT. It has also presented unprecedented and unique challenges for the people of Canberra and the ACT government. I am pleased to report that the government, through the loose-fill asbestos insulation eradication scheme, is close to delivering its promised enduring solution to an issue that has touched the lives of so many Canberrans.
2018 will see the demolition of the vast majority of Mr Fluffy properties. Some 929 properties have already been demolished through the government’s program, while a further 22 properties have been demolished privately. Collaborative planning and problem-solving, diligent monitoring and evaluation, the introduction of innovative processes, and ongoing community engagement have all contributed to the delivery of a safe, efficient, and effective demolition program.
Only 72 affected and impacted properties now remain, mainly those with settlement dates of up to June 2020 or those not participating in the scheme. There are also a number of properties that have their own unique circumstances to work through, particularly those in unit complexes.
The anticipated net cost of the scheme has fallen from its original estimate of some $400 million to $295 million, primarily due to reducing demolition costs and increased land values. The public sale of remediated land is now an established part of the local real estate scene, with revenue helping to defray the cost of the scheme and repay the $1 billion commonwealth loan.
Sales have been strong and have seen interest from buyers looking for the opportunity to purchase cleared and remediated blocks of land in established suburbs, with nearly 700 blocks sold so far. New homes are springing up on these blocks, signalling the beginning of the community regrowth that has always been an intended outcome of the scheme. However, the story of Mr Fluffy has never been one just about land and houses. It is a story about people’s lives—their fears and anger, their relief and hopes and, most importantly, their futures.
The key to the task force’s success has been maintaining a focus throughout on people: providing compassionate support, clear guidance and meaningful assistance. The task force’s role continues, focused on supporting the remaining residents, completing the remediation work and remaining focused on safety now and into the future. I commend the achievements of the asbestos response task force in helping to realise the government’s commitment to a lasting solution to this most wicked of circumstances.
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