Dear Editor,
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In The Tribune of November 12, 2014 a letter from John Jarratt, an Ambassador for Asbestos Awareness Month, warned about the dangers of asbestos and suggested that citizens should make themselves aware of its widespread threat throughout the community. It reccomended we consult the website www.asbestosawareness.com.au to get a clearer picture of this health threatening substance, so widely used in our community.
The Yass Valley Council discussed asbestos at its December meeting and, after noting again the continuing and unaddressed asbestos pollution problems at several known sites in the Council area, Council resolved that a further report be sought on the matter in the New Year. They did this even though there was evidence on file that the matter had been drawn to Council's attention as early as 2009 - seven years ago!
Several councillors expressed great concern that such a health-threatening problem could be hived off for the attention of a 'qualified consultant' for a report to be received at some time in the future when the risk of asbestos pollution is well known and deadly.
There should be no debate going on about who's responsible for its removal and it's a sad commentary on the council and its General Manager that such an irresponsible outcome for doing nothing came about when it resolved "that Council write to the owner of Allen Park seeking them to place a lock on the gates as a matter of safety and additional signage be erected".
How many more lives are to be threatened by this gross negligence and obfuscation?
Surely, if there is a known threats to health anywhere in the community, council should address them now and petty arguments about who is responsible are just plain stupid and not unlike arranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic or of Nero fiddling while Rome was burning.
There is no excuse for any further delay and Council should accept its responsibilities and clean up right now - and ask questions later!
Brian Millett
Yass