Asbestos pipe found at Wendouree West Community Hub construction site

Remediation works will take place at the construction site of the Wendouree West Community Hub next week. 

Excavation works on the Wendouree West Recreation Reserve building site have uncovered three small sections of former sewer pipes containing asbestos. The works also found industrial waste, including asphalt, concrete kerbs, rocks and paving.  

Building contractor Plan Group has engaged Digga Group, an Environment Protection Authority (EPA)-licenced contractor, to carry out the remediation works from Tuesday 19 April. Digga Group will follow approved EPA processes to ensure that there is no impact to any surrounding areas or residents.  

The reserve is safe for continued community use. Worksafe has been notified. Exclusion zones will be in place and air monitoring will be conducted throughout the remediation works to ensure that the area is safe for public use.  

The site is fenced and secured. The material will be disposed of at a licenced facility. The remediation works are expected to be completed mid-May. 

A preliminary environmental site assessment carried out before design works were undertaken in August 2019 and additional soil analysis in 2021 did not detect the asbestos pipe and industrial waste. 

Following the discovery of the material on-site, further soil testing was undertaken with a hygienist and a licenced hazardous material removalist. These tests found a further two locations on the construction site with asbestos containing material.  

Site user groups, including the North Ballarat Cricket Club, Forest Rangers Soccer Club, YMCA and Wendouree Neighbourhood Centre, and nearby residents were informed today. 

The Wendouree West Community Hub will include a sports pavilion, changerooms, Men’s Shed, ReCranked Youth Shed and a five-a-side street soccer zone. Construction of the hub is expected to be completed later this year. 

The installation of three soccer pitches, new coaches’ boxes and lighting have been completed.  

The works are part of the larger $7 million Strengthening Wendouree Community Recreation Precinct Project, funded by the State Government.