By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
After an anonymous tip-off, the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) in Victoria has confirmed that asbestos from the Corkman Irish Pub demolition site has been removed without consent and dumped on another site.
The Corkman Irish Pub site. Image care of Facebook
The Corkman Irish Pub in Carlton was illegally demolished last week, by developers Stefce Kutlesovski and Raman Shaqiri, causing a massive outcry from the Melbounre community, and gained attention nationally.
After the authorities were alerted to the demolition, the developers were issued a statutory notice from the EPA to contain the razed materials on site, as asbestos was found within the debris. However an anonymous tip-off alerted the EPA to some of the materials having been removed and dumped on a site in Cairnlea, a suburb 20 km north-west of Carlton. The EPA has confirmed that the debris has been tested and that asbestos was found within the materials.
The site owners are now required to cover the materials and erect signage to ensure that the asbestos fibres do not spread from the site.
“The owner will be required to undertake air monitoring at the site to ensure there is no airborne asbestos present; they must also install controls to prevent any sediment from the premises discharging and contaminating the local stormwater system,” explained EPA metro manager Daniel Hunt.
The EPA will work with the site owners to remove and dispose of the asbestos carefully, while if those who removed the materials from the Carlton site are caught, they could face prosecution.
“Anyone who dumps construction and demolition waste, or permits its illegal disposal, faces a fine of up to $758,350 if prosecuted,” stated Hunt.