❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the Department of Housing's handling of potential asbestos contamination at a property in Bicton, focusing on notification timelines and adherence to regulations. The Department's response defends its actions and claims compliance.
AnsweredQoN 6359Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a Department of Housing property at Lot 85 on Plan 1547 as shown on certificate of title 2173/253 known as 66 Murray Road, Bicton, and I ask —
(1) What action did the Department of Housing take to after it received notification of possible asbestos contamination on this site from a resident on 22 October 2010?
(2) Did the Department of Housing notify the Department of Environment and Conservation of these concerns?
(3) If yes to (2), on what date?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) Did the Department of Housing notify WorkSafe of these concerns?
(6) If yes to (5), on what date?
(7) If no to (5), why not?
(8) Why was the first notification from the Department of Housing to nearby residents about possible asbestos contamination at this site dated 18 April 2011, when the Department of Housing itself was first aware of possible contamination in October 2010 from a resident, and then from the Department of Environment and Conservation in November 2010 and February 2011?
(9) Does the Department of Housing consider that it followed correctly all internal policies and procedures in relation to asbestos management from the moment it was notified of potential asbestos contamination concerns by a resident in October 2010?
(10) Does the Department of Housing consider it followed correctly all policies and procedures as prescribed by external agencies and Acts, such as WorkSafe, Contaminated Sites guidelines, Health and so on?
(11) If yes to (10), how did it meet each of these requirements?
(12) If no to (10), where did it fail to meet these requirements?
(1) What action did the Department of Housing take to after it received notification of possible asbestos contamination on this site from a resident on 22 October 2010?
(2) Did the Department of Housing notify the Department of Environment and Conservation of these concerns?
(3) If yes to (2), on what date?
(4) If no to (2), why not?
(5) Did the Department of Housing notify WorkSafe of these concerns?
(6) If yes to (5), on what date?
(7) If no to (5), why not?
(8) Why was the first notification from the Department of Housing to nearby residents about possible asbestos contamination at this site dated 18 April 2011, when the Department of Housing itself was first aware of possible contamination in October 2010 from a resident, and then from the Department of Environment and Conservation in November 2010 and February 2011?
(9) Does the Department of Housing consider that it followed correctly all internal policies and procedures in relation to asbestos management from the moment it was notified of potential asbestos contamination concerns by a resident in October 2010?
(10) Does the Department of Housing consider it followed correctly all policies and procedures as prescribed by external agencies and Acts, such as WorkSafe, Contaminated Sites guidelines, Health and so on?
(11) If yes to (10), how did it meet each of these requirements?
(12) If no to (10), where did it fail to meet these requirements?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
27 November 2012
Responded by
Minister for Education representing the Minister for Housing
Response time
34 days
The Department of Housing advises:
(1) The Department initially undertook a site inspection, liaised with the Department of Environment and Conservation and commissioned an environmental consultant to test and report on the alleged asbestos contamination on the site.
(2) Yes
(3) The Department's records indicate that the first contact with the Department of Environment and Conservation occurred on 18 November 2010 with a Form 1 (Report of a Known or Suspected Contaminated Site) lodged with the Department of Environment and Conservation on 24 December 2010.
(4) Not applicable
(5) The Department's records do not indicate that Worksafe were contacted with these concerns.
(6) Not applicable
(7) The Department was investigating the allegations and had engaged an environmental consultant who reported only a minor discovery of asbestos cement material.
(8) Testing by an environmental consultant in December 2010 did not detect asbestos fibres in the soil samples taken from the site. Work was stopped on the site in January 2011 following further notification from the Department of Environment and Conservation. Remediation works on the site commenced in April 2011, with the Department informing residents at this time.
(9) The Department considers that it has followed due process and has liaised closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation throughout this matter.
(10) The Department is not aware of any breaches of policies or procedures prescribed by external agencies and has not received infringement notices from external agencies in this matter.
(11) The Department considers that it has responded appropriately to the "Notice" from the Department of Environment and Conservation, arranging for environmental consultants to investigate the allegations and resulting in the site being reclassified as "De-contaminated" with no restrictions on use applicable to the site.
(12) Not applicable
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(1) The Department initially undertook a site inspection, liaised with the Department of Environment and Conservation and commissioned an environmental consultant to test and report on the alleged asbestos contamination on the site.
(2) Yes
(3) The Department's records indicate that the first contact with the Department of Environment and Conservation occurred on 18 November 2010 with a Form 1 (Report of a Known or Suspected Contaminated Site) lodged with the Department of Environment and Conservation on 24 December 2010.
(4) Not applicable
(5) The Department's records do not indicate that Worksafe were contacted with these concerns.
(6) Not applicable
(7) The Department was investigating the allegations and had engaged an environmental consultant who reported only a minor discovery of asbestos cement material.
(8) Testing by an environmental consultant in December 2010 did not detect asbestos fibres in the soil samples taken from the site. Work was stopped on the site in January 2011 following further notification from the Department of Environment and Conservation. Remediation works on the site commenced in April 2011, with the Department informing residents at this time.
(9) The Department considers that it has followed due process and has liaised closely with the Department of Environment and Conservation throughout this matter.
(10) The Department is not aware of any breaches of policies or procedures prescribed by external agencies and has not received infringement notices from external agencies in this matter.
(11) The Department considers that it has responded appropriately to the "Notice" from the Department of Environment and Conservation, arranging for environmental consultants to investigate the allegations and resulting in the site being reclassified as "De-contaminated" with no restrictions on use applicable to the site.
(12) Not applicable
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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