BY DAKOTA TAIT
Residents in the fallout zone of the Wickham wool sheds fire have been left outraged, after being forced to sign a document which absolves government agencies of liability in the clean-up.
The Deed of Access and Release is required to be signed, before government agencies can start to clean a contaminated property.
The letter was drafted by the NSW Public Works Advisory and sent in an Environment Protection Authority or given in person to residents who reported asbestos.
But residents are concerned, the State Government is protecting itself, ahead of the community.
Kath Fielden, a Maryville resident and lawyer, says it's not the reassurance residents want and need.
"It's not really a deed. It's undated," Ms Fielden said.
"The name of the other party that we're supposed to be releasing is not identified, and it basically sort of says that we agree that if any contractors come into our house, that we release them from any and all from now until the end of time."
"It's indefinite, it could go forever, it could be the Government of Ukraine, the scope of works is not clarified.
"Obviously they're trying hard and they're trying to resolve this and they're trying to do something as quickly as they can, but it's just concerning at the moment."
More than 300 reports of asbestos contamination have now been filed by residents.
The letter's raised concern, tenants and property owners could potentially be living with the dangerous material if clean-up goes awry.
But Ms Fielden says the document is probably meaningless.
"I'm not worried about signing it, because it's completely unenforceable," Ms Fielden said.
"But I think also, having that as the first interaction we've had, when people have been ringing, registering pieces of asbestos, asking for specific advice about washing machines, do our cars need to be written off, all of those questions.
"We're not getting answers, we just get this weird, really dodgy, really amateur letter."
A second public meeting is scheduled at the Gallipoli Legion Club in Hamilton at 6pm on Friday evening.
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| Image credit: NSW Environment Protection Authority |
