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Residents of West Ryde in Sydney are reportedly still waiting for asbestos found two years ago on a derelict church site to be cleaned up, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.

Brown and white bonded asbestos was found on the church property which fronts Gaza Road and Hughes Street when Lend Lease was using the land as a site office for building work at the nearby St Michael's Primary School in 2010.

Katrina Lee, a spokeswoman for the Sydney Archdiocese, said the church had not been informed of the asbestos hazard until July last year.

When Lend Lease's building manager contacted the archdiocese, an independent asbestos specialist company was brought in to test the air and surface soil.

The report found the site to be of low risk if left undisturbed, she said, and it was then fenced off in preparation for remediation that was expected to start within a week.

Locals have accused WorkCover and the Ryde Council of giving the church lenient treatment in dealing with the extreme health hazard.

Local resident Bruce Rees said people living in the area were told the asbestos would be dealt with ''in a matter of a few months'' but they are still waiting.

A spokeswoman said it was the council's understanding that the clean-up would begin this week.
She dismissed residents' allegations that the church had been given preferential treatment.

FULL STORY

After years of waiting residents demand remediation of derelict church site (Sydney Morning Herald)

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