Sunshine residents are putting pressure on the Brimbank Council in Victoria in regards to what should be done with land near the Kororoit Creek. Local residents are insisting that the land be gifted to them instead of rezoned.
This request comes after an environmental audit report revealed that the parcel of land on Fraser Street right next to the Creek contained asbestos. The report also showed that the asbestos is not a health risk to people who use the area as long as thick grass continued to cover the land.
Last year Melbourne Water applied to the council to have this 3034sq block at 113 Fraser St rezoned. Proposing to turn the current public park and recreation zone into Residential 1 which will allow it to be sold to developers.
The discovery of asbestos at this site has caused fear in local residents as they are concerned about the risk of asbestos exposure if Melbourne Water is permitted to develop the land. Residents are insisting that land be gifted to them and kept as open space for families who live in the area.
Despite these fears Melbourne Water are still working with the council to try and get their proposal on public exhibition. They have said that the land is safe for development and they have plans in place to manage the asbestos.
The fear of local residents is not surprising as exposure to asbestos is a health risk and a known cause of asbestos related diseases including the cancer mesothelioma, asbestosis and asbestos related pleural disease. Australian asbestos related compensation claims, such as mesothelioma compensation claims, have been made in circumstances where the individual who developed the asbestos related condition was exposed to low levels of asbestos. Asbestos compensation claims in Victoria are determined by a Jury.
