Royal Park Protection Group Inc

MEDIA RELEASE

Monday 7 July 2003

ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP ON GAMES VILLAGE SITE

Recently the media reported that Games Minister Madden reassured Victorians that, despite 10 to 12 month delays in construction and a blow-out in costs to $1.1 billion, the Games venues and village would be delivered on time and within budget constraints.

Meantime, up at the Royal Park Games Village site in Parkville (in reality a real estate subdivision), workers have been engaged in a cleanup exercise excavating and removing asbestos from old pipes and phone pits. Workers in protective suits can be seen and large areas around the heritage-buildings precinct have been cordoned off with tapes reading 'Danger Asbestos Dust'. It is understood that many kilometres of pipes extend the full length of the 20-hectare site and are relatively unchartered. No estimate can yet be given, apparently, as to how long the decontamination mission will take. Numbers of trees are being knocked over during the work.

Julianne Bell, Convenor of the Royal Park Protection Group, comments: "The public including local residents would really like to know just what's happening down there on the Royal Park Games Village site. We realise that new water mains are badly needed to supply water for fire hydrants to protect the heritage buildings in case of fire. But it is ridiculous that much of the site is under excavation. It has been common knowledge for years that there is asbestos in the underground service pipes so why hasn't the Government undertaken an environmental audit before? This strengthens our contention that it is an unsuitable site for the Village and for residential development. The area must be returned to parkland and alternatives found for athletes' accommodation."

The Royal Park Protection Group is calling on Games Minister Madden to release information on the whole asbestos decontamination exercise on the Royal Park Games Village site and to explain how it will add to the blowout of the Games budget.

Media Contact: Julianne Bell, Convenor, Royal Park Protection Group 98184114 or 0408022408 www.royalparkprotect.org.au