Despite asbestos stalling the $4 million rebuild of the Fairhaven, Victoria surf life saving clubhouse in November of last year, the club is still paying $4,300 a week to builders to keep fencing on site and their contract alive.

Asbestos was discovered at the site after the demolition of clubrooms which were built in the 1960s. The club is now calling for support from the Victorian State Government, local Council and the public to help them remove all asbestos from the site. The removal of asbestos is extremely important as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to a person contracting an asbestos related illness such as mesothelioma.

The club has now been forced to operate safety patrols and nipper programs from an old container and trailer. However both the club and Victorian Government have confirmed they are working together to remove all asbestos and resume the rebuilt.

Victoria, along with other states in Australia such as NSW and South Australia, now have legislation in place to assist people in pursuing an asbestos compensation claims. Asbestos compensation claims in Victoria such as mesothelioma compensation claims in Victoria, are assisted by legislation ensuring a speedy process occurs.

Goulburn Mulwaree Council in New South Wales have been asked by Yass Valley Council if they could dispose of asbestos which was removed from a fire damaged building, in the Goulburn tip as they do not hold the required licence.

Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree Council has confirmed that the council has agreed to allow the asbestos waste to be dumped. However this would have an impact on their tip so the two councils have been in financial negotiations and Goulburn is still waiting to see if Yass Valley is bringing the asbestos to them.

The Mayor is assuring the Goulburn community that there will be no risk to the public’s health if the asbestos is to be dumped in Goulburn tip. Yass Valley Council will be making sure the waste is transported safely and then tip employees who are fully qualified will be handling the asbestos waste.

These safety precautions are extremely important as even minimal exposure to asbestos can lead to a person contracting an asbestos related illness such as mesothelioma.

Australia was a large user of asbestos in the past and the unfortunate legacy is that asbestos diseases, especially mesothelioma which is expected to peak within the next decade, have become major health concerns. Residents all over Australia have been affected, including in such places as Goulburn. Many of those suffering asbestos conditions have pursued asbestos compensation claims in Australia to ensure their family’s interests are looked after.

Asbestos Audits Queensland has released a new book called identifying Asbestos in your Home. The book warns home renovators of the risk of asbestos in floor coverings. The book which has been the recipient of Queensland government funding aims to assist homeowners and renovators identify any asbestos in their homes.

Brain Sketcher, author of the book and General Manger of Asbestos Audits Queensland, has said that prior to 1990, asbestos was used in all different types of floor coverings. Therefore floor coverings in homes built in and earlier than the 1980s have a good chance of containing asbestos.

This is extremely dangerous as many people are not aware that asbestos was used in their floors so they go ahead with maintenance or renovation work on their floor coverings causing serious health risks. Maintenance and renovation work on flooring such as sanding or grinding can lead to asbestos fibres becoming airborne and result in people inhaling asbestos particles. Such exposure to asbestos can lead to those people contracting asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Due to asbestos related diseases being such a major health concern for Australia, some Australian states including Queensland and NSW have legislation in place to help people pursue an asbestos compensation claim, including both asbestosis compensation and mesothelioma compensation in Australia.

Following the alarming discovery of two tones of asbestos sheeting metres from two inner Sydney child care centres, environmental watchdogs have been put on alert.

On Friday night, Fire and Rescue NSW were called into Wattle Lane, Ultimo. Located nearby were the KU Wattle Lane Children’s Centre and the Magic Pudding Centre on Mckee Street.

A spokesman from Fire and Rescue NSW commented that the asbestos material may have been dumped.

Asbestos fibres, when inhaled, can lead to asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma, asbestos related pleural disease and asbestosis. In order to prevent the inhalation of asbestos fibres, the asbestos sheeting was covered with black plastic and then sand.

A spokeswoman from the Environmental Protection Agency said that advice was provided to the City of Sydney Council on how to conduct a safe asbestos clean-up.

The city’s waste management depot is located about two blocks away from the dumping site.

The area is safe, but the public will not be allowed to access the lane while the asbestos removal process is underway.

Said a City of Sydney spokesman, “NSW police have cordoned off Wattle Lane between MacArthur Street and Mary Ann Street in Ultimo following the discovery of illegally dumped asbestos last night.”

It remains unclear who is responsible for the illegal asbestos dumping.

New South Wales has a high incidence of asbestos related conditions. Mesothelioma in New South Wales is unfortunately at a high level. So much so, asbestos claims in NSW are regularly pursued for those in New South Wales suffering asbestos conditions.