ASBESTOS has been found in a large pile of rubble at a Huntly emergency services facility used for training Country Fire Authority personnel.
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The Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre, operated by the CFA, is used to train mostly volunteer firefighters, allowing them to undertake training scenarios similar to those they may face in reality.
The CFA has launched an investigation into how the the material came to be at the site.
The State Emergency Service was this month scheduled to run an urban search and rescue training program at the facility, but cancelled because of the potential risk to those participating.
It is believed the large pile of industrial material was transported to the site several years ago and it is unknown if, or how many people, have come into contact with the rubble.
A CFA spokesperson said expert hygienists had advised “a mound of soil containing some chunks of asbestos sheeting does not pose a risk to people working or training at the Huntly training ground’’.
“As a result the facility remains safe and open for training,’’ the spokesperson said.
“Access to the material, located in a disused part of the training ground, has been restricted until it can be removed in coming days.
“An internal investigation into how the material came to be at the site is underway and CFA is working closely with WorkSafe and EPA’’.
Environmental Protection Authority acting North West Manager Paul Ratajczyk said the EPA had been made aware of a pile of industrial waste that may contain asbestos at the CFA’s Huntly training facility and passed that information on to WorkSafe.
“EPA will provide any support needed, which could include ensuring the duty holder removes any asbestos if found and deposits it at a site licensed to receive it,’’ he said.
A spokesperson for emergency services minister, James Merlino, said the safety and well being of firefighters was paramount.
“That's why we are upgrading the Victorian Emergency Management Training Centre at Huntly as part of the government's $46.2 million investment to resolve the training gap caused by the closure of Fiskville,’’ she said.
“These infrastructure upgrades will help ensure our firefighters and emergency service personnel have a safe training environment.’’