The NSW Government today launched a state-wide awareness campaign regarding Fair Trading’s voluntary purchase and demolition program currently available to property owners whose homes have been affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation.
Canberra-based company Mr Fluffy installed pure loose-fill asbestos in around 1,000 homes in the ACT, as well as a smaller number of NSW homes, during the 1960s and 1970s. Breathing in the fibres may increase the risk of asbestos-related disease.
“In June 2015 the NSW Government announced a voluntary purchase and demolition program to provide safety, certainty and support for NSW residential property owners whose homes test positive for loose-fill asbestos,” Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Victor Dominello said.
“This campaign will help to raise awareness about the program and encourage affected homeowners to seek assistance and advice from the Fair Trading Loose-Fill Asbestos Insulation (LFAI) Taskforce.
“We want to ensure every homeowner in NSW who could potentially be affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation avoids the risk of losing the value of their home. Property owners have until 1 August 2016 to register with the LFAI Taskforce.”
The awareness campaign to be rolled out over the next four months on billboards, radio, digital banners and social media is a call to action to homeowners: ‘Don’t lose the value of your home to loose-fill asbestos.’
Residential property owners, with homes built before 1980, can register to receive free sample testing.
To date, 91 properties have tested positive to loose-fill asbestos across 28 Local Government Areas. The number of affected properties by LGA is attached.
The Australian Property Institute will engage two independent companies to undertake the valuation process for each affected property. Each property will be valued as if it was free of loose-fill asbestos as at 29 June 2015.
Fair Trading’s LFAI Taskforce will remain in place until all properties registered before 1 August have been demolished and soil remediated. More information is available at www.loosefillasbestos.nsw.gov.au or by calling 13 77 88.
The Indian Telegraph Sydney Australia