❓ Mr. Cook questions the Treasurer about lead contamination at Perth Children's Hospital and asbestos in other WA buildings. The Treasurer acknowledges the issue, cites a similar incident at Fiona Stanley Hospital, and mentions asbestos at Willetton Senior High School, outlining remediation efforts.
AnsweredQoN 636Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — LEAD CONTAMINATION
636. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the
revelation that high levels of lead were found in the drinking water at the new
children's hospital and the Treasurer's claim that it is not
uncommon for issues of this nature to arise on the building sites of complex
projects. Can the Treasurer please inform the house of any other building
projects in WA that have lead in the drinking water and asbestos in the
ceilings, and what is being done to determine the extent of the contamination
in the current project?
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL — LEAD CONTAMINATION
636. Mr R.H. COOK to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the
revelation that high levels of lead were found in the drinking water at the new
children's hospital and the Treasurer's claim that it is not
uncommon for issues of this nature to arise on the building sites of complex
projects. Can the Treasurer please inform the house of any other building
projects in WA that have lead in the drinking water and asbestos in the
ceilings, and what is being done to determine the extent of the contamination
in the current project?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Yes, there were not high levels of
lead but excessive lead was found, not in the drinking water but in the water
system in the Perth Children's Hospital. The member asked what other
recent ones there have been similar to this—Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Let me finish. During the testing period
for Fiona Stanley Hospital—before it was a hospital and when it was
still a construction site—they found lead in the system.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Let the minister finish!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : They addressed it; they found the source
and solved it, just like we will.
Mr R.H. Cook : What was the source?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I am not the engineer. You people have specialist
knowledge in sewerage systems—you go find it! The member asked me what
other building has asbestos in the ceilings—Willetton Senior High
School. Many high schools do. Many buildings do.
Mr R.H. Cook : When was Willetton high school built?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The member just asked me a question and I am
answering it. We test the systems. When we found the asbestos, we asked what
was the best and safest way for workers and others to remove the asbestos, and
we are doing that. We have searched the building to find out if there was any
more inadvertent asbestos in the system. We checked and there is not. We are
addressing the problem. We will have it addressed in a timely manner without
any additional cost to the state, before it becomes a hospital and before we
take possession of it. We address the issues; we do not sit back and whinge and
whine to the media and everything else—we get things done.
lead but excessive lead was found, not in the drinking water but in the water
system in the Perth Children's Hospital. The member asked what other
recent ones there have been similar to this—Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Several members interjected.
Dr M.D. NAHAN : Let me finish. During the testing period
for Fiona Stanley Hospital—before it was a hospital and when it was
still a construction site—they found lead in the system.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Let the minister finish!
Dr M.D. NAHAN : They addressed it; they found the source
and solved it, just like we will.
Mr R.H. Cook : What was the source?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : I am not the engineer. You people have specialist
knowledge in sewerage systems—you go find it! The member asked me what
other building has asbestos in the ceilings—Willetton Senior High
School. Many high schools do. Many buildings do.
Mr R.H. Cook : When was Willetton high school built?
Dr M.D. NAHAN : The member just asked me a question and I am
answering it. We test the systems. When we found the asbestos, we asked what
was the best and safest way for workers and others to remove the asbestos, and
we are doing that. We have searched the building to find out if there was any
more inadvertent asbestos in the system. We checked and there is not. We are
addressing the problem. We will have it addressed in a timely manner without
any additional cost to the state, before it becomes a hospital and before we
take possession of it. We address the issues; we do not sit back and whinge and
whine to the media and everything else—we get things done.
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