Government to set up new loose-fill asbestos buyback scheme

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The ACT Government will develop a new voluntary buyback program for properties affected by loose-fill asbestos.

The new scheme is in large part a continuation of the current buyback program which closes on 17 August, but will apply only to properties found to have loose-fill asbestos after that date.

โ€œIt is possible there could be additional affected properties in Canberraโ€™s older suburbs that are yet to be identified as containing loose-fill asbestos insulation,โ€ said Sustainable Building and Construction Minister, Rebecca Vassarotti, as she introduced the legislation to the Assembly on Thursday.

โ€œIt is understood in addition to Mr Fluffy-installed loose-fill asbestos โ€ฆ bags of loose-fill asbestos were available for purchase and were used either as stand-alone insulation or mixed with other insulation products,โ€ Ms Vassarotti said.

โ€œSince commencement of the scheme, five additional affected properties have been identified.โ€

She said it is reasonable to assume that more affected properties could be identified in the ACT after the current scheme cuts off.

โ€œBy not continuing a buyback program โ€ฆ it would be inconsistent with the ACT Governmentโ€™s commitment to eradicate loose-fill asbestos from the ACT residential community.โ€

Ms Vassarotti said as at the end of April this year, the majority of affected Canberra properties identified by the scheme had been demolished โ€“ 992 out of 1,027.

โ€œOf the 35 properties remaining on the affected residential premises register, 11 have been surrendered to the Territory with demolition planning underway,โ€ she said.

Homeowners of the affected properties are required to have an asbestos management plan.

The current scheme began in 2014 and while the ACT Government says itโ€™s โ€œnot the preferred optionโ€, it would look to undertake compulsory acquisitions for any remaining affected properties in 2025.

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