Asbestos triggers family health fears
A family of six have been forced to live in a Department of Housing property, which they say has been rife with asbestos for more than two years.
The bedrooms, kitchen, lounge and outdoor walls of the home have all been ruined by the fibre, leaving five children and one adult exposed to the dangerous dust.
Resident of the Beachlands property Natalie Mogridge, has laid several complaints since realising the issue in 2012, and said she could not believe the Department of Housing had not taken action earlier.
“It started with small holes in the walls which started about the same size of a 20c coin, but have grown to the size of a dinner plate and bigger,” Ms Mogridge said.
“There are holes everywhere and mould in every room of the house — there are pieces of wall falling out.
“I reported that I believed it was asbestos to the Department of Housing in 2012 when I first realised. I’ve placed about 10 calls and some complaints over the past two years, and nothing has happened.”
Ms Mogridge is currently in remission after suffering bowel cancer in 2002.
She said she feared the asbestos would make herself and her children sick.
“I have been in remission since having bowel cancer in 2002 and my main concern is the health of my family,” she said.
“Since the asbestos moved through the walls I have seen ongoing health problems with my kids — we took photos of the house, took it to the Shire and never heard back.
“I want to get out as soon as possible and I want another house for my safety’s sake.”
According to the Asbestos Awareness website, “there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibres” and breathing in dust containing asbestos fibres can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Ms Mogridge said her children started getting boils around the same time she realised the house contained the fibre.
She said despite voicing her concerns, she was ignored until yesterday — two years on — when the Department of Housing confirmed the house was in fact filled with asbestos.
“They finally confirmed it was asbestos yesterday after doing nothing for two years,” she said.
“A health inspector came over yesterday to ‘have a look at the house’ and they must have known it was asbestos because they went to the car to get plastic and tape and have taped up some of the holes.
“Covering up the holes with tape won’t get rid of it — my kids are still exposed to it.”
According to the family, the State Department of Housing confirmed the house contained asbestos fibre yesterday.
The Department of Housing general manager service delivery Steve Parry said:
“Asbestos does not fester or grow. It is a naturally-occurring mineral that was used extensively in housing construction until the early 1980s.”
“Where ACM is identified in a house, it is allocated a risk rating. The higher the risk rating, the higher the need for remediation will be.
“Under department policy, properties with ACM present are inspected annually, any change in the material is noted and the risk level is re-assessed.”
