Demolition work stopped due to lack of permit, not because of asbestos dangers

Melbourne, Australia – Residents are raising criticisms of the city council’s concern for public health after workers unexpectedly showed up in their neighborhood to demolish a house which contained asbestos.

On February 29, neighbors alerted the Brimbank City Council when they saw people doing demolition work and removing asbestos sheeting from the home. Within hours, council officers arrived and required the workers to stop.

A council manager said no one had obtained a permit for the demolition work. The building was left partly demolished, and the council ordered the building be made safe until its owner obtained a demolition permit for the house.

A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had seen broken pieces of asbestos sheeting on the lawn of the house and was worried that passers-by would be exposed to airborne fibers. She also expressed concern about the risk of exposure to people who had been stealing items from the abandoned building.

The resident said the taped signage in front of the house was not very effective in warning people about the risk of asbestos on the property. She also expressed her disappointment with the authorities who she judged felt no urgency in ensuring that the hazardous material was removed from the area in the interests of the health of neighborhood residents.

The council manager reported that the council did not deem the property a public health risk. Health department inspectors who visited the site said the asbestos was being removed according to proper safety guidelines.

At the moment, a building permit is not required for the removal of asbestos.

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