Welcome to Western Sydney Business Access

 fb tw yt in 

Share this page with Friends

Asbestos fears delay footpath building program in Hills Featured

Asbestos fears delay footpath building program in Hills

WORK on Hills Council footpath program has been delayed after Telstra admitted that telecommunication pits located on many streets around Australia may contain asbestos.

This follows admissions from telco that further traces of asbestos have been confirmed in more of its communications pits in Western Sydney.

Hills Council General Manager Dave Walker said that Council’s footpath program is on hold, with Telstra providing a limited response as to when they will alleviate the issue.

Recently constructed footpaths along Middleton Avenue, Castle Hill; Ridgecrop Drive, Castle Hill and Bettington Road Oatlands, contain gaps in between the footpath and the lid of the Telstra pit, Mr Walker said.

These gaps in the completed footpaths may create a hazard and Mr Walker said he’ll consider covering Telstra pits with bitumen if a delay to the rollout of the footpath program continues to drag on.

Mr Walker said it’s a frustrating situation that was delaying more than $1 million worth of infrastructure.

“We want to be able to fulfil our delivery program, but we’re in a position where we are being held up by Telstra, who are not giving us an answer as to when we can re-start building footpaths,” Mr Walker said.

“While it’s important to manage asbestos in a safe manner, the limited response we’re getting from Telstra doesn’t help and we have no idea when we can get moving on a large component of our four-year plan.”

“Council’s work should not be held up because another organisation can’t get their act together.”

Mr Walker said that building footpaths and connecting the community remained one of the Council’s highest priorities.   “Whilst Telstra has finally made some commitment in regards to constructed footpaths, we are yet to see activity occur.”

 



editor

Publisher
Michael Walls
michael@accessnews.com.au
0407 783 413

Access News is a print and digital media publisher established over 15 years and based in Western Sydney, Australia. Our newspaper titles include the flagship publication, Western Sydney Express, which is a trusted source of information and for hundreds of thousands of decision makers, businesspeople and residents looking for insights into the people, projects, opportunities and networks that shape Australia's fastest growing region - Greater Western Sydney.