Works begin to clear asbestos from wool shed roof

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Work has started to remove asbestos from the roof of the surviving wool shed building at Wickham. 

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says a local company is undertaking the work.

It's expected to take a fortnight, weather permitting. 

Waste from the demolished buildings is also now being moved. 

They're using sprinklers to keep the dust out of the air.

Image credit: Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp.

Residents in fire fallout zone outraged by clean-up deed

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.

Image credit: NSW Environment Protection Authority

Second community meeting on Wickham fire set for Friday

BY DAKOTA TAIT

More than 300 asbestos reports have been filed by residents after the Wickham wool sheds fire, with another community meeting pencilled in for Friday. 

The forum's taking place at the Gallipoli Legion Club in Hamilton tomorrow at 6pm.

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp says it's a chance to give some clarity to the situation.

"I've organised that meeting to get all the government agencies there, to answer all the questions that people do have," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"People are contacting me with so many questions - I can answer some, but not all."

"We need to get all those agencies together and just thrash it out, and allay some of the fears and update people on where the agencies are up to in the cleanup."

Some residents have started returning home, but many are still locked as cleanup works continue.

Mr Crakanthorp says they're trying their hardest to remediate streets and homes across Wickham, Islington, Maryville, and other areas.

"They've cleaned some of the streets, and they're looking to clean more of the streets," Mr Crakanthorp said.

"But, you know, the quicker they do it, the better, because the sun's coming out and the wind's getting up and that's what we don't want when you've got friable asbestos in the community."

Apartment residents head home after Wickham blaze

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Residents from the Avenue apartments, next door to the devastating Wickham wool sheds fire, have finally been allowed to return home, a week after the blaze.

 

Some areas on the property are still contaminated, however it's understood they've been cordoned off and clearly marked.

 

The Soque units remain closed to occupants, while demolition and rehabilitation works continue.

Another public meeting is also expected to be held later this week.

The Environment Protection Authority is continuing efforts to clean up streets surrounding the disaster.

A number of streets have been cleaned or are awaiting clearance from an asbestos specialist, while work on some areas in Islington is yet to begin.

Concerns remain debris could have traveled as far as Waratah. 

Residents who suspect they've discovered asbestos can report it to the EPA at 131 555.

Work Continues To Extinguish Massive Warehouse Blaze At Wickham

 BY IAN CROUCH

Around 60 firefighters are still working to extinguish a massive blaze which has destroyed two large warehouse buildings at Wickham.

The fire broke out in one the former wool store buildings on Annie Street just after 2.30pm on Tuesday and quickly spread to an adjoining building, fanned by strong winds.

More than 100 firefighters battled the inferno for several hours to stop the fire spreading to a third building, with crews brought in from as far away as Dee Why and Mascot in Sydney.

Superintendent Adam Dewberry says it's feared the walls of the buildings could collapse as work continues to fully extinguish the fire.

 "A significant concern around structural integrity of the remaining shells of those buildings. We don't want our firefighters in danger trying to get those fires out, so we are fighting the fire from a distance in a defensive mode and it is going to take some time to get into those hot spots," he said.

The first of two buildings destroyed in the fire at Wickham

An exclusion zone remains in place and surrounding residents are still evacuated with the Goodlife Church in Albert Street being used as an evacuation centre.