❓ Hon Rick Mazza raises concerns about asbestos contamination in regional WA schools and town halls. The Minister for Education and Training outlines the Department's asbestos management plan for schools, but cannot comment on town halls.
AnsweredQoN 735Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ASBESTOS —
MERREDIN COLLEGEAND WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE CUNDERDIN
735. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to asbestos fragments
scattered across several regional WA schools such as Merredin College and the Western
Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin. What research is currently being
conducted to determine whether other regional Western Australian primary and
secondary schools, as well as town halls, have asbestos contamination?
MERREDIN COLLEGEAND WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE CUNDERDIN
735. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for Education and
Training:
I refer to asbestos fragments
scattered across several regional WA schools such as Merredin College and the Western
Australian College of Agriculture Cunderdin. What research is currently being
conducted to determine whether other regional Western Australian primary and
secondary schools, as well as town halls, have asbestos contamination?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The Department of Education has an
asbestos management plan that describes the processes that ensure that all
asbestos-containing materials are managed safely in schools. As part of this
plan, an inspection of each school is undertaken
on a regular basis—not exceeding three years—to assess the
school's buildings and its surrounds. When potential ACM in soil is identified on a school
site, a licensed contractor is engaged to undertake a surface pick of the affected area to collect and remove any ACM. Depending on the nature of the
potential ACM, an assessment may be undertaken to determine whether the site
needs to be reported to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
and a detailed investigation should be carried out by a qualified environmental
health consultant.
I am not able to provide an answer
to the part of the question about town halls because town halls are generally
the responsibility of the relevant local government authority.
some notice of the question.
The Department of Education has an
asbestos management plan that describes the processes that ensure that all
asbestos-containing materials are managed safely in schools. As part of this
plan, an inspection of each school is undertaken
on a regular basis—not exceeding three years—to assess the
school's buildings and its surrounds. When potential ACM in soil is identified on a school
site, a licensed contractor is engaged to undertake a surface pick of the affected area to collect and remove any ACM. Depending on the nature of the
potential ACM, an assessment may be undertaken to determine whether the site
needs to be reported to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
and a detailed investigation should be carried out by a qualified environmental
health consultant.
I am not able to provide an answer
to the part of the question about town halls because town halls are generally
the responsibility of the relevant local government authority.
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