DUST plumes from the old Supertex site are sparking fears of an asbestos contaminated site.
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Residents have contacted Council about recent demolition on the Chantry Street property.
They have questioned whether the planning department is properly following through on consent conditions.
The former war munitions and then textile factory site won stage one approval for an $8 million 35-lot residential subdivision in 2011. Local developer John Kelly owned the site at that time but said he sold it a few months ago to Sydney interests.
“They have spent a lot of time with Council, they’ve done a master plan and have done everything right in regard to asbestos,” Mr Kelly said.
“A decontamination report has been completed for the site.”
Council issued deferred commencement consent for the development in February, 2011, planning director Chris Stewart confirmed.
It was dependent on numerous conditions being met, including further testing and verification that the property was suitable for residential use.
“Our compliance team has been involved recently,” Mr Stewart said.
On June 27 Council received an asbestos management plan for the site.
WorkCover NSW required the owner to install certain control measures and ordered a surface clean up.
Mr Stewart said the work was completed early this month by a licensed contractor who provided WorkCover with receipts relating to the proper disposal of the nonfriable asbestos material.
The documents also stated that the land was now free of asbestos “The site will be subject to further testing in accordance with the consent issued by Council to ensure the site is suitable for the proposed residential use,” he said.
This testing was on nonasbestos substances. Slabs had been broken up to enable testing of soil underneath.
Mr Stewart said once these results came through, planners would know whether the area was suitable for residential development. If not, a remediation plan would be needed.
Asbestos has plagued the old Supertex site. In 2006 WorkCover shut down demolition of the factory, alleging then owner Peter Felemegas’ contractors had broken up asbestos and mixed it with rubble, in breach of regulations.
They also claimed asbestos was found in whole sheets.
Mr Felemegas denied any improper handling at the time. WorkCover insisted on a hygienists’ report before work could proceed.
He told the Post that his crews had cleared 60 tonnes of asbestos from the property over six months. Nearby residents concerned about health impacts complained to Council.
Mr Kelly’s DA sparked similar concerns. Councillors insisted on rigorous conditions, including that the remediation process must be validated by an independently accredited site auditor.
