National Indigenous Development Centre Site Remediation Works - Asbestos

National Indigenous Development Centre Site Remediation Works

Excavation for construction of the National Indigenous Development Centre (NIDC) has revealed the site contains larger amounts of buried sheet asbestos than originally assessed. Sheet asbestos was once commonly used as a building product. The Project Environmental Scientist has advised that asbestos in the bonded sheet form poses a minimal health risk. To manage this risk strict protocols and standards are required to guide the safe remediation of the site.

The asbestos is broadly present across the site. When the asbestos was discovered the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) sought advice from the Environmental Scientist who have advised the following remediation plan to ensure the safety of workers and general public:

1. An Environmental Scientist will be on site at all times to oversee the remediation

2. Affected fill from across the site will be moved by truck to the southern end of the playing field. The trucks will stay within the site and will be covered to contain dust.

3. The fill will be spread out in layers

4. Workers in protective clothing will screen the fill and remove by hand any pieces of asbestos they find. The asbestos will be immediately placed in approved plastic bags. This material will then be removed from the site to a licensed landfill facility.

5. When the Environmental Scientist and Asbestos Removal Contractor are satisfied that no asbestos is left at the surface of the spread out fill, it will be rolled and compacted. The next layer of affected soil will then be spread on top for screening.

6. The process will continue until the excavation works has reached the required levels.

The result of this process will be a compacted stockpile of fill on the playing field. Once the stockpile is complete, soil samples will be taken and tested by an independent laboratory. Ultimately, this stockpile will be capped with a layer of concrete and topped with clean fill as part of the works on the new oval.

Once the excavation works are complete, the Environmental Scientist will test the excavation site to ensure the building can proceed in accordance with the Site Remediation Action Plan.

During the excavation and remediation process nine extra air monitors will be installed across the site to ensure the safety of workers and the general public. Visual inspections of the affected soil will be undertaken by the Environmental Scientist.

Workers must wear personal protective equipment.

The ILC, St Hilliers and other contractors take the presence of asbestos on the site very seriously. St Hilliers are a reputable building company who have a duty of care to their workers and the general public. The remediation plan developed by the Environmental Scientist ensures the project can proceed in a safe manner.

Excavation and remediation work will start as early as Thursday 28th of August. We anticipate that the remediation process will take approximately 5 weeks If you have any questions or concerns about this issue, please contact our community engagement specialist, Stuart Waters, at Twyfords on 1800 11 00 55 or via email twyfords@twyfords.com.au

Yours Sincerely,

ASHLEY MARTENS

Director, Capital Works