By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A developer has written a second letter to re-assure Berwick residents about the safety of its asbestos removal in the future after a worker without protective equipment was photographed on Alira estate.
In the letter on 3 April, Moremac Property Group project director Martin Gaedke stated the group had “put arrangements in place to ensure this is not repeated” at the Ward Road site.
“We are committed to complying with all health and safety requirements in carrying out these works, and continue to liaise closely with WorkSafe and other authorities to ensure our on-site activity satisfies relevant requirements and regulations.”
Mr Gaedke alleged that web-based cameras and more security presence would surveil the site due to “ongoing” illegal dumping of materials.
He wrote that “weekly monitoring and management work” would continue to ensure that eastern part of the site was securely fenced and “acceptably safe”.
The works would also identify and manage asbestos-containing material when it was found, the letter stated.
WorkSafe had ordered a stop put to asbestos removal on the site as it investigated the photographed OHS breach on 23 March.
Residents were first alarmed by tree removal works on the site in late January that showered their homes with dust.
Adjoining residents Paul and Jenni Weaven found a shard of confirmed asbestos-containing material in their yard during the works.
In early March, Moremac had told residents in a letter that there were “small amounts” of asbestos-containing material in former building debris and illegally dumped building waste.
“We want to assure you that no materials other than the trees removed have passed through the mulcher.”
In a statutory declaration, Ms Weaven stated she’d photographed the on-site worker without protective gear on 23 March.
She described him walking back and forth in a “methodical manner”, collecting material on the ground and placing it into a red bag for about 45 minutes.
Ms Weaven stated the man took the bag as he left the site.
Her husband Paul said that contrary to the Moremac letter, WorkSafe had not appeared to have “lifted” its stop-work order.
“It’s kind of funny as the neighbourhood know exactly what’s happened and they still try it on.”
Star News is awaiting an update from WorkSafe on its investigation.
On 29 March, a spokeswoman said the authority was aware of “allegations of asbestos removal at the site which may have breached OHS regulations”.
The authority had ordered further activity at the site to cease while it made inquiries, she said.
Recently, Environment Protection Authority Victoria had deemed only “limited, if any” earthworks had occurred during tree removal.
On recent inspections, the EPA had found no evidence that works were “not consistent with best practice”.
