Mix of relief and upset at delay

Parents of children at a west Auckland school are ‘‘relieved’’ their concerns have been listened to as planned asbestos removal work has been put on hold.

In the wake of parent protest and children absent from school on March 20, the Ministry of Education and Hobsonville Primary School’s board of trustees had decided to pause further work until the April holidays.

Removal had been due to start on March 20 during school hours, while around 40 families were calling for the work to be delayed until children were off site.

A petition was launched and around 50 children were absent on the day. Reprieve was granted late that afternoon.

However, not all work would be completed during the Easter break, and it was estimated it would to take three to four weeks.

The 360 tonnes of contaminated soil - from a broken cement storm water pipe - was discovered in October when work started on a new drop-off zone, bordering the school. Although the class of asbestos found at the site is deemed non-friable or bonded - meaning it’s unlikely to crumble easily and release fibres - it could still turn friable when broken.

Removal was to start on March 20 due to a range of factors, including the risk of children or animals disturbing the site, the contractor being originally unavailable during the April holidays and limited dump site operating hours.

Parent Lea Ann Case said her family was ‘‘extremely relieved’’ at the outcome to postpone the work.

‘‘We don’t debate that the works need to be done - we completely understand that - we want it to happen. It’s just a matter of when it’s going to happen,’’ she said.

The school’s board of trustees chairperson Lance Norman said while there were absences on March 20, more than 500 children were present.

‘‘Ninety per cent of the students turned up, even though there were some absolutely differing views in the media and the public domain ... but [those parents] were happy to say, ‘remove that product.’’’

He said there was no ‘‘win-win situation’’ as now 50 parents, and a similar number of staff members, were unhappy to leave the product where it was. Some children were frightened because the asbestos would not be removed right away.