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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-09-09 Daily Xml
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Public Works Committee: Port Lincoln Health Services Legacy Asbestos Remediation Project

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:22): I move:

That the 522nd report of the committee, entitled Port Lincoln Health Services Legacy Asbestos Remediation Project, be noted.

In 2013 and 2014, the Port Lincoln Health Service underwent a redevelopment and upgrade, which the committee inspected earlier this year. During the refurbishment works in the theatre suite, friable asbestos was identified that had not been recorded on the asbestos register. Additional funding was provided to remove the asbestos in the theatre suite during the refurbishment.

Consequently, a thorough assessment was undertaken of the remaining hospital to determine the extent of the friable asbestos. SA Health is now proposing to remove, where possible, the remaining asbestos from the hospital. Where this is not possible, it will be encapsulated and stabilised and an asbestos management plan established. This is an essential project to minimise the risk of exposure of workers and the public to asbestos, as well as minimising the ongoing maintenance costs and time taken.

Given that this is a fully functioning hospital and health service, the process will take some time as areas are decanted and services relocated. The works are due to commence soon and are likely to take around two years to complete. The cost of the project is $12.275 million exclusive of GST. Given this, and pursuant to section 12C of the Parliamentary Committees Act 1991, the Public Works Committee reports to parliament that it recommends the proposed public works.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (11:24): I rise to make a small contribution to the 522nd report of the Public Works Committee. As the Chair of that committee stated, the committee visited Port Lincoln Health Services and it was great to see a regional hospital having an upgrade—a much needed upgrade by the look of it—and when we were there the works were well underway. I think it is testament to the people of Port Lincoln to have this much-needed health service redevelopment, as it was in quite poor condition and particularly in light of the detection of asbestos in that facility.

We heard through the witnesses that it is going to take at least two years to extract the asbestos. It is a very laborious process but it obviously must be done with care. Some staff who had worked there and who had undertaken some of the rebuild of the hospital had health concerns or scares about exposure to asbestos but witnesses from SA Health stated that all staff, including contracted staff, were allowed to go to Country Health funded medical checks with ongoing entitlements: checks were ongoing and I think that the fears of that workforce were alleviated.

The $12.275 million project to remove the asbestos was in some ways unforeseen with the redevelopment of the hospital but the staff and the people of Port Lincoln can now be assured that it is asbestos free and it is a hospital that is well deserved. I commend the report to the house

Mr TRELOAR (Flinders) (11:26): I rise to speak on the 522nd report of the Public Works Committee, entitled Port Lincoln Health Services Legacy Asbestos Remediation Project, and that that report be noted. I had the pleasure of joining the Public Works Committee earlier this year when it visited the Port Lincoln hospital redevelopment. My memory is that the total redevelopment cost was put at $39 million so it was a significant spend. It is now a wonderful facility that services well the people of Port Lincoln and Eyre Peninsula.

Unfortunately, as has been mentioned, during the redevelopment friable asbestos was discovered I think in the theatre suite, if memory serves me correctly. Unfortunately, during the previous redevelopment—which was way back in the 1970s, and I do just remember that, Mr Speaker; I was just a boy of course but I remember that going on—the huge building on the hill became even bigger. There was asbestos remediation during that time but, unfortunately, not all of it was discovered and so, of course, not all of it was removed at the time.

For a good part of the early decades of the 20th century, at least, asbestos was a very important component in the building industry so it was no surprise to find traces of asbestos in a big public building like a hospital and, in particular, the Port Lincoln hospital. Obviously, remediation has had to occur and will have to continue to occur. It will add to the cost of the project. It is estimated that about $12.5 million will be required to remediate the asbestos. It is also estimated that it will take about two years for this process to occur.

There is no doubt that further disruption will occur in the Port Lincoln hospital. There will be disruption to our diligent and hardworking health workers and also the patients, but it has to be done. I congratulate the Public Works Committee for its diligence on this matter and also the visit to Port Lincoln to what will be ultimately, when it is finished, a wonderful facility and second to none as far as country hospitals are concerned.

Mr PENGILLY (Finniss) (11:28): I have a brief contribution and perhaps a more generalised range of comments on the asbestos matter. The Port Lincoln hospital redevelopment is a great project and when the committee visited and had an inspection the committee members were highly impressed. I really do not know where this asbestos thing will finish up; it is going to go on for decades in government buildings and everywhere else for that matter.

It will be of enormous expense to future governments of all persuasions and, indeed, to the private sector. What takes its place, when they have cleaned up all the asbestos which they are using in building works today, I am not quite sure. However, this was a good project and I look forward to the Port Lincoln hospital having a great future.

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (11:29): I would like to thank all of those who have just contributed to the support of this hospital to do with the asbestos remediation. Thanks to the member for Chaffey, the member for Finniss and also the member for Flinders, and, yes, it was good to have you on that trip when public works visited your particular area.

I think this is a project of real significance and importance and it shows due care being taken by SA Health, so I believe it is actually in good hands. Thank you to the committee as well for its hard work and to those who came and put the report together for us, so thank you. I commend the report to the house.

Motion carried.

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