Killer asbestos dust fears flare

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Concerned Gaythorne residents at a community forum held at Gaythorne RSL. Picture: Marc R

Concerned Gaythorne residents at a community forum held at Gaythorne RSL. Picture: Marc Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

Asbestos that was dumped on the banks of a creek in Bellevue Ave, Gaythorne. Picture: Ann

Asbestos that was dumped on the banks of a creek in Bellevue Ave, Gaythorne. Picture: Annette Dew Source: News Corp Australia

PREMIER Campbell Newman has ordered a top-level taskforce to investigate links between deaths and illnesses in suburbs around the sites of two former Brisbane asbestos factories.

The Courier-Mail has reported 20 cases of deadly mesothelioma have been identified within a 1.5km radius of the old Wunderlich plant in Gaythorne and the former James Hardie site in Newstead.

Mr Newman has been briefed on the possible asbestos contamination and ­yesterday he instructed his ­director-general Jon Grayson to establish a taskforce to deal with concerns.

“Community concerns over asbestos at Gaythorne and Newstead need to be addressed,” Mr Newman said.

“I’ve established a taskforce to deal with this.”

RIGOUR: Residents demand fast-tracked precautions in Wunderlich asbestos investigation

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The taskforce is expected to co-ordinate resources from different government departments and outside organisations that may need to be involved.

The deadly air they breathed 3:42

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People who grew up around the Wunderlich asbestos factory in the 1950s and ’60s have fallen ill or died from breathing in the dangerous substance. They and their families tell their stories

  • Herald Sun
  • 11 Oct 2014
  • News

Independent testing commissioned by The Courier-Mail last month found asbestos dust in the roofs of five out of six homes and pieces of asbestos dumped around a nearby creek.

A check of the Queensland Cancer Registry uncovered the 20 cases although health authorities stressed that the findings were preliminary.

Eight cases were from around the Gaythorne site and the remainder were from the Newstead area.

The check of the registry dated back to 1982.

However, they only capture people who were living in the area at the time they were ­diagnosed.

Further analysis of the situation is needed to trace patients who have moved in and out of the area over the past few decades. The two factories in Gaythorne and Newstead operated for almost 50 years.

They were not shut down until 1983.

Gaythorne residents said they remembered homes in surrounding streets were regularly coated in powdery dust from the plant.

Cleaning up the mess 2:47

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The story behind Australia’s biggest known suburban asbestos contamination, according to the experts

  • Herald Sun
  • 11 Oct 2014
  • News