19 June 2001
Manukau City Council Responds To Asbestos Select Committee Inquiry
Manukau City Council’s response to the Local Government and Environment Select Committee report on asbestos released
earlier this month will reinforce the community’s confidence into Council’s handling of this matter and reiterate
Council’s position that it has acted responsibly and appropriately on all issues raised.
The Select Committee’s recommendations relate to LIM statements, removing bulk asbestos containing material off the five
most affected properties, ensuring regulatory measures are placed in the District Plan, investigating public areas near
any contaminated site, resolving disputes with residents through arbitration or mediation and assisting landowners in
the Flat Bush area to test their properties.
Chairperson of the Strategic Management Committee and Manukau City Councillor Len Brown says five out the seven
recommendations have been initiated by Council well in advance of the committee’s findings and after serious
consideration the latter two will not be adopted.
“An independent review by international expert Alan Rogers supports our views that minor dispersed findings of asbestos
in established residential areas of Flat Bush poses no more of a health risk than undertaking normal everyday
activities. For example, the associated risk of a passenger in a car is 1600 times greater than the risk posed by bulk
asbestos containing material. In this regard it would be redundant to assist property owners in the Flat Bush area to
test their properties,” says Cr. Brown.
Councillor Brown says proceedings from a recent international conference on asbestos health affects confirms that the
methodology used by Council to reach these conclusions is in keeping with international practice and leading edge
advances in this field.
The Strategic Management Committee has agreed to ‘reaffirm’ to the Select Committee the contribution Manukau City
Council’s Flat Bush Investigation, Risk (health) Assessment and Management Control Strategy has made to best practice
within New Zealand. In addition, a contribution of up to $1m is being sought to the project as the Select Committee
considers the outcome of the investigation is helpful for national guidelines.
Councillor Brown also states that because decisions about the management of asbestos were reached with the consensus of
the Steering Group, Council has met the intent of the Select Committee’s recommendation for mediation or arbitration.
“The Steering Group helped to formulate and agree to all the protocols in this process and Council is satisfied that all
stakeholders concerns were addressed and resolved in an open and inclusive manner,” says Cr. Brown
Cr. Brown says Council’s response will be forwarded to the Select Committee, Steering Group and affected residents.
Ends