Water and Sewerage Infrastructure

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:40): By leave of the council, I wish to answer the question asked of me by the Hon. Mr Darley a few minutes ago, which I took on notice. I am advised that approximately 45 per cent of the water distribution pipes in SA Water's statewide distribution network are made of asbestos cement, with similar percentages in the metropolitan and regional areas. I understand that repairs to asbestos cement pipes are carried out by Allwater in the metropolitan area and by SA Water in the regional areas. Asbestos cement pipe is bonded asbestos-containing material, that is, it is non-friable, which can become friable from damage, disturbance or deterioration.

I am advised that, provided the correct precautions are taken, repairing asbestos cement pipes does not pose a risk to maintenance personnel. Common modes of failures of asbestos cement pipes are: circumference cracks from soil movement—that is, reactive clay or soil we were talking about earlier that the Hon. Mr Ridgway does not think we have in Adelaide—or pressure-related longitudinal splits. I am advised that the former can often be repaired with a repair band without the need to remove the pipe; the latter normally requires a collar to be broken and the damaged length of pipe removed.

I understand that both Allwater and SA Water have their own established standard work procedures for handling asbestos cement pipes and provide training to employees on them. The key requirements of the procedure include wearing personal protective equipment, keeping the pipe wet and cutting of the asbestos cement pipe with non-powered hand tools to minimise dust, using a drop sheet under the pipe to collect any cut-offs, collecting and wrapping in polyethylene any removed pieces of asbestos cement pipe, and storing of wrapped asbestos cement pipe in a designated waste disposal bin for subsequent disposal to a licensed facility.

The amounts of asbestos cement pipe required to be removed are normally below the threshold specified for a licensed contractor to be engaged. I am advised that during repairs members of the public are kept well away from the trench by placing traffic control devices around the excavation, and placing an observer at the site. Asbestos cement pipes have not been installed in South Australia since the late 1980s, I am told, having been largely replaced by uPVC and ductile iron pipe, and when asbestos cement pipes are replaced the old main is left in situ and the new main laid alongside. I hope that information helps the honourable member.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: That is not what he asked.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: And had you listened you would have got it in the first sentence.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: He asked what its life expectancy is—you never ever answer the question.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway, the Hon. Mr Kandelaars is on his feet.