Page 3655 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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testing. Of these 55 pieces, 25 were found to contain asbestos. Importantly, all asbestos-containing material was assessed as non-friable in nature.
Further, it is important to note that the Chief Health Officer has provided advice that the non-friable asbestos found at Harrison School presents a low risk of releasing airborne fibres. Nevertheless, the government understands that the discovery of asbestos at a relatively new school raises questions and concerns.
The Education Directorate and Harrison School have been working with the school community to provide information and to answer questions. The school principal has been providing regular email updates to the school community, and the education support office staff have been attending the school at drop-off and at pick-up times to speak with parents and carers.
Information has also been provided to the school via the Harrison School P&C, and I would like to thank them for this. Last Wednesday night, 12 September, the education support office, ACT Health and WorkSafe ACT attended the Harrison School P&C meeting to further discuss the issue and answer any outstanding questions from parents and carers at a time when working parents were more likely to be able to attend. Across the board, the school community has shown great calm and understanding in the response to this issue, despite the efforts of some members of this place to scare them.
WorkSafe ACT is responsible for the investigation into the source of the material, including how long it has been there. And the Education Directorate has provided WorkSafe with all its information about the contractors associated with works at the school throughout the school’s history. This has been an extensive exercise of obtaining and reviewing files over the past decade.
Day-to-day school life has continued. The school is using neighbouring ovals for additional play space and is receiving ongoing assistance with traffic control at peak times, given the reduced parking space. Again, this is a testament to the school principal, Jason Holmes, and his team, as well as officials in the Education Directorate and WorkSafe ACT.
A remediation plan to remove all garden bed materials is now being developed. This will involve the removal of all the gravel fill and vegetation from the garden beds at the school by a licensed asbestos removalists, taking appropriate safety precautions. This will be an extensive process. I expect work will begin during the next school holidays. Following remediation of the site, the garden beds will be rehabilitated, with input from the school community. Should WorkSafe recommend any further action, either at Harrison or at other education facilities, we will, of course, work with them to ensure necessary precautions are taken.
ACT government officials have also been liaising with representatives of Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School and the Catholic Education Office in responding to a similar discovery there. Again, WorkSafe is the key investigating agency for how the asbestos may have come to be at Mother Teresa. I hope that their findings can help to answer the remaining questions at both schools. I would also like to thank and
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