A WA parliamentary question raises concerns about asbestos risks at the City Farm in East Perth, particularly regarding children's safety, and seeks information on government action. The government's response indicates a lack of awareness of the specific report and inaction.

AnsweredQoN 1307Legislative Council
Asked
17 April 2002
Portfolio
Consumer and Employment Protection

QuestionView source ↗

CITY FARM, EAST PERTH, ASBESTOS ROOFS
A report prepared for the Asbestos Diseases Advisory Service on 28 March 2002, titled “Inspections of Asbestos Cement Roof at City Farm, 184 Brown Street, East Perth”, showed that the roofs were of old standard corrugated asbestos cement sheeting. Each roof had several large open ventilators allowing free airflow in and out of the gutterless building. These structures appeared to be used as learning areas for children. The asbestos cement roofing showed considerable deterioration, and many sheets on the verandah were holed and broken. Clearly asbestos fibres are being blown and washed off the gutterless roofs, and, should it hail, the asbestos release would be enormous. The report recommended replacing all asbestos cement roofs with a safer material, such as colourbond iron; monitoring for the presence of asbestos fibres in and out of the buildings; and, if necessary, instituting an appropriate clean-up. (1) Who owns this building in Brown Street, East Perth? (2) How many children visit the premises each week? (3) Has the Government seen the report prepared by Mr Bruce Horgan? (4) If so, has the Government initiated any measures to protect children who visit the centre, the people who work there and others who visit? (5) Has the Government estimated what it will cost to carry out the recommended action? (6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(1) Who owns this building in Brown Street, East Perth? (2) How many children visit the premises each week? (3) Has the Government seen the report prepared by Mr Bruce Horgan? (4) If so, has the Government initiated any measures to protect children who visit the centre, the people who work there and others who visit? (5) Has the Government estimated what it will cost to carry out the recommended action? (6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(2) How many children visit the premises each week? (3) Has the Government seen the report prepared by Mr Bruce Horgan? (4) If so, has the Government initiated any measures to protect children who visit the centre, the people who work there and others who visit? (5) Has the Government estimated what it will cost to carry out the recommended action? (6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(3) Has the Government seen the report prepared by Mr Bruce Horgan? (4) If so, has the Government initiated any measures to protect children who visit the centre, the people who work there and others who visit? (5) Has the Government estimated what it will cost to carry out the recommended action? (6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(4) If so, has the Government initiated any measures to protect children who visit the centre, the people who work there and others who visit? (5) Has the Government estimated what it will cost to carry out the recommended action? (6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(5) Has the Government estimated what it will cost to carry out the recommended action? (6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(6) If not, why not? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
On behalf of the minister representing the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection - (1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(1) The East Perth Redevelopment Authority currently owns the City Farm building. It is the subject of a peppercorn lease. (2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(2) Unknown. City Farm was unable to provide the information within the time fame given. (3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(3) The WorkSafe division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection and the East Perth Redevelopment Authority have not seen the report. The building is in a similar condition to when the then Premier, Richard Court, visited it two years ago and extended City Farm’s lease on the site. (4)-(6) Not applicable.
(4)-(6) Not applicable.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more