Asbestos response lagging in NSW
Residents say the New South Wales Government is failing in its response to the toxic legacy of Mr Fluffy asbestos.
Like the neighbouring ACT, the NSW Government has pledged to buy back houses that contain the ‘loose-fill’ asbestos insulation.
The Government claims there are only 90 homes in NSW that need to be remediated, two-thirds of which are located in Queanbeyan.
Of the Queanbeyan group, thirty-eight properties are located on a single unit block.
“Queanbeyan is the epicentre in New South Wales,” says MP for Monaro John Barilaro.
“We're learning from what's happening in the ACT, in our buyback plan of course there's a small difference where we're giving those landholders a choice of remaining on their land.”
But the NSW Government’s lack of progress in response is making some residents angry.
“I've been disappointed with the NSW Government's response,” Queanbeyan property owner Matthew Rigter told ABC reporters on the weekend.
“At this stage they don't seem to have control of what legal issues are involved in them purchasing back my place.
“I've received valuations that I believe are woefully inadequate, and leave me in a situation where I can hardly pay off my bank debts, or may not even be able to pay off my bank debts.”
Mr Rigter’s Mr Fluffy property has been without a tenant for 18 months due to the risk the asbestos fibres pose.
He says he is losing $1,400 a month while the NSW Government drags its heels.
“That's not theoretical money, its' the actual money that I'm paying out between Queanbeyan City rates, my mortgage repayments and body corporate fees,” Mr Ritger said.
Mr Barilaro says the Government is doing what it can.
“We're going through valuations, offers are being made to homeowners, those homeowners need time to make a decision,” he said.
“We had to start from zero, in the ACT they identified their problem back in the late 80s and early 90s.
“We've only been on this for over 12 months.”
“I think that a little more time is reasonable, given those circumstances.
“Every step of the way they're taking triple the time of the ACT Government.
“I'm comfortable with where it's at, of course for many with this problem, they're anxious, they want to see resolution.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we've got to get it right.”