Enviro group joins inquiry push

ENVIRONMENTAL group Friends of the Earth has added its voice to the calls for a judicial inquiry into the bungled demolition of the Anglesea power station.

The planned implosion last week failed to destroy the station’s main boiler building, but grey smoke drifted from the site after the bunkers and conveyor belt collapsed.

Federal Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson and mining and energy union CFMEU have both raised concerns about the demolition potentially exposing residents to asbestos.

The fears saw clean air campaigner Andrew Laird ask the State Government to establish an independent judicial inquiry into the issue.

Friends of the Earth yesterday backed the call, stating the public had a right to know what occurred and if there were any resulting health risks.

“We hold concerns that Alcoa has refused to release any of the expert reports and risk assessments that were commissioned into potential asbestos contamination or the explosive demolition operation,” campaigns co-ordinator Cam Walker said.

“The EPA appears to have left it up to Alcoa to self-monitor and report on the dust that was created by the operation.

“The close proximity to the primary school adds to the need to declare an inquiry that is able to investigate the issue and report as soon as is possible.”

Alcoa last week said the partial demolition had been “safely executed” and it had earlier carried out a 12-month asbestos removal program on the site.

The company did not provide a time frame on when it expected the remainder of the power station structure to be demolished.