As the clean-up of ‘Mr Fluffy’ loose fill asbestos comes to a close, the ACT Government has announced a suite of initiatives to help wrap up the saga.
Since 2014, the Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme has helped to remove 95% of the 1,024 identified Mr Fluffy affected properties from the Canberra community, with the total net cost of the scheme expected to be around $300 million.
On 19 November, the ACT Government announced the Pathways to Eradication Package to support community safety outcomes as remaining homeowners manage their affected property.
“Remaining affected properties continue to put the occupiers and members of the broader community, who may enter the property, at risk of exposure to loose fill asbestos insulation,” ACT Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, Suzanne Orr said.
“This Package supports homeowners to manage their transition to new living arrangements and take necessary actions to minimise the risk of exposure to themselves and anyone attending their property.”
The Package initiatives include: transition assistance; additional Asbestos Management Plan (AMP) requirements; Development and Building Approval restrictions; and the introduction of an Occupancy Prohibition for new owners and tenants, to prevent affected properties being occupied following ownership transfer or the end of a rental agreement.
However, the Government’s position remains that the only enduring solution to the existence of loose fill asbestos in the ACT is demolition of affected properties.
The Government has acknowledged it may need to take future Compulsory Acquisition action if homeowners do not arrange for the demolition of their affected property prior to mid-2025, by which time they will have had 10 years to manage their property.
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