Testing exonerates Christchurch contractor in asbestos furore.
Testing at a Christchurch landfill has found no evidence of asbestos after concerns that contaminated earthquake rubble had been dumped.
The Department of Labour received a complaint claiming 24 truckloads of contaminated rubble was dumped at the Burwood recovery park and contaminated steel taken to Christchurch recycling plant Sims Pacific Metals before the substance was discovered.
In his report completed in August, department inspector Steve Moran reported that an unnamed complainant had said he was “extremely concerned” the case was not an isolated incident.
The complainant told Moran that a digger driver working at the Cashel St site was concerned about the possible presence of asbestos.
The report said Cera’s environmental assessment identified asbestos in the building’s balcony, but the information was not given to Dormer Construction.
The company had an opportunity to test the material before it was removed for recycling, Moran said.
A Cera spokeswoman said yesterday a “small amount” of asbestos was found during demolition of a building after the June 13 quake. She said it was not possible to enter the building to establish whether asbestos was present.
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