CDU city campus project hits a snag after asbestos found at site

WORK on the $250m Charles Darwin University (CDU) Education and Community Precinct has hit a snag with asbestos debris being uncovered during excavation.

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WORK on the $250m Charles Darwin University (CDU) Education and Community Precinct has hit a snag with asbestos debris being uncovered during excavation.

Warning signs have gone up on the Cavenagh Street site advising of the asbestos discovery.

A CDU spokesman has allayed concerns about the asbestos discovery.

“CDU was advised by its excavation contractor that minor asbestos debris had been found on the Education and Community Precinct site,” the spokesman said.

“The pieces located are fragments about the size of a 50-cent coin and of small concentrations.”

The spokesman said the fragments most likely resulted from the removal of buildings that contained asbestos from the site.

“This is unfortunate but not unexpected,” he said.

“Under the contractor’s Unexpected Find Protocol, the suspect material was tested for asbestos and returned a positive reading.

“The contractor immediately halted works in the area.

The new CDU city campus under construction. Picture: Che Chorley

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“The contractor engaged its registered asbestos removalist and an environmental consultant to begin works on the mitigation and removal strategies.

“All relevant authorities have been notified and work is being conducted safely, in accordance with all relevant standards.”

Despite the asbestos find, it is expected that it will not have any major impact on the site or surrounding areas.

Work is continuing to make good progress on other areas of the site with excavation well under way.

The construction of the new CDU city campus got under way three weeks ago.

It followed the federal government’s decision to bring forward $74.8m in funding to enable the excavation works to begin this year.

The Education and Community Precinct will be a centrepiece of the revitalisation of the CBD, through the Darwin City Deal.

Local business DTA Contractors won the contract for site works and main building excavation, supporting up to 18 contractors working on site.

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The project will create 350 on-site jobs and a further 380 jobs across the supply chain through to 2024, making it one of the biggest building projects undertaken in Darwin during recent times.

It will deliver state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities, an art gallery and a library.