LOCAL Member John Barilaro is calling on his government to purchase NSW homes containing Mr Fluffy (or loose fill) asbestos at the market rate and knock them down as a final solution to the ongoing public health issue.
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Mr Barilaro has sent a six-page strategy to the NSW Premier, aimed at alleviating long-term health risks associated with loose-fill asbestos contaminated homes and ensuring residents and tradesman are no longer affected financially by the legacy left by Mr Fluffy.
The proposal is in line with moves currently being conducted by the neighbouring ACT Government, and includes a State Government buy back of affected homes at the market rate, demolishing of the affected properties and redevelopment of repaired sites.
"Once removal work has been completed, the NSW Government has the ability to work with local councils to redevelop the sites in ways which maximise the return for the state," Mr Barilaro said.
"Council cooperation would be expected to assist the NSW Government in minimising the cost of the program by maximising the resale value.
"The properties could also potentially be added to the stock of Housing NSW. As there is an existing budget allocation for the purchase of public housing property, this may be able to be utilised to make the proposal less of a budgetary burden."
The NSW Government and Queanbeyan City Council have both recently expressed reluctance to fund a clean-up without federal government assistance, and Mayor Tim Overall has said the size of the issue is well beyond the scope of a Local Council to manage by itself.
However Mr Barilaro said there was an "appetite" for a permanent solution to the Mr Fluffy issue at the moment that he hoped to capitalise on.
"I hope to secure the support of the community for this proposal as the NSW Government continues to conduct testing of affected properties over the coming months."