James Hardie asbestos legacy: $3m cost to Parramatta Council
New figures show the spiralling cost of remediation work at dozens of James Hardie asbestos legacy sites across Sydney, and how little the State Government has allocated for the huge environmental hazard.
The State Government has been slammed for leaving Parramatta Council to foot a $3 million bill for clean-up works at James Hardie asbestos legacy sites since 2017.
New figures show the spiralling cost of remediation work at 47 sites across NSW — 30 of which are in the Parramatta local government area — and how little money the government has allocated for the huge environmental hazard.
The government passed legislation back in 2005 which effectively cleared James Hardie of any responsibility to pay for clean-up costs and compensation to landowners, despite decades of dumping toxic materials by the company.
Yet, it has only provided the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) with a budget of $1.7 million — nearly half of what it’s already cost Parramatta Council — for the works, which have so far not uncovered any life-threatening airborne asbestos.
Parramatta Deputy Mayor Michelle Garrard accused the government of failing to fulfil a key environmental responsibility.
“We’re well out of pocket in doing this remediation work for the government, and the problem isn’t going anyway any time soon,” said Cr Garrard, who is running as an independent candidate at the state election.
“Council is doing an exceptional job in maintaining this problem with due diligence — but the State Government needs to properly fund the council.”
A spokesman for Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton said the final budgetary details had “not yet been determined” for the asbestos works.
This is despite a NSW Ombudsman’s report in April 2017 which recommended the asbestos sites should be remediated at the government’s expense.
A council spokeswoman said its costs over the past 18 months had “exceeded” $3 million.
“No funding at this stage has been provided by the State Government to assist council in addressing its public lands,” the spokeswoman said.
Private properties around A’Becketts Creek in Granville have been among the worst affected by the James Hardie dumping, with a big storm last month exposing the dangerous asbestos.
Photos show it was covered by government authorities — but residents fear the problem will only get worse until the site is properly remediated.
“There’s been nearly two decades of mismanagement by various authorities at A’Becketts Creek — and it’s not good enough,” one resident, who asked not to be named, said.
Council properties which were identified as potential asbestos-landfill sites in a 2010 report will be tested for the dangerous material. They include Experiment Farm; the southwestern corner of Hambledon Cottage; Dalley Street Reserve; Dundas Park; Doyle Ground; and the nature strip outside Rosehill Bowling Club.
“Additionally, Dan Mahoney Reserve has been tested due to its proximity to other identified sites, and its historic uses,” a council spokeswoman said.
Council has also tested and remediated areas at PH Jeffrey Reserve, Barton Park, Swann Reserve, Unnamed Reserve in Ruse Street, Harris Park, large footpath areas in Arthur Street, Granville, and Hassall Street, Rosehill.
“Air quality is tested for asbestos prior to and throughout the testing process,” the council spokeswoman said. “None of our testing sites have recorded airborne asbestos at any point.”
James Hardie Industries, which now operates out of Ireland, did not respond to questions about whether it would finally take full responsibility for the mass polluting of Parramatta.
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