ASBESTOS REPLACEMENT WORK THROUGH THE ROOF

The State Government today announced the $120 million Asbestos Roof Replacement Program (ARRP) had passed another milestone with more than 570 state school asbestos roofs replaced.

Education and Training Minister, Rod Welford, said the program was a great example of the Government delivering on its commitment to Queenslanders.

“We have been working hard to get these roofs replaced as quickly as possible and the rate of progress is a credit to all involved, Mr Welford said.

“As of this week, 571 roofs have been replaced – and that means we are well past the half way mark within less than 18 months of the program commencing.

“We are well on track to replace more than 600 state school roofs before the end of the year.

“Our Government is the first in the state’s history to comprehensively address this issue and provide funding to replace every asbestos roof in every Queensland state school.

“We have been able to accelerate the program by getting specialist tradesmen on-board to work weekends, as well as school holidays.”

Mr Welford also announced another 69 asbestos roofs at Queensland state schools had been scheduled for replacement during the summer school holidays.

“Tenders will be called for this work to be undertaken in December and January when students are not present,” he said.

“This work will take the number of roofs replaced under the Asbestos Roof Replacement Program to more than 660 by the start of the 2007 school year. However, to achieve these targets we are relying on continuing fine weather and the availability of skilled tradesmen.”

The replacement list for December/January is:

Aitkenvale SS (4 roofs); Amamoor SS (1 roof); Bardon SS (1 roof); Birkdale SS (2 roofs); Brookfield SS (1 roof); Cleveland District SHS (3 roofs); Cleveland SS (1 roof); Corinda SHS (5 roofs); Deception Bay SS (3 roofs); Flagstone Creek SS (1 roof); Granville SS (2 roofs); Gympie SHS (1 roof); Gympie South SS (2 roofs); Gympie West SS (4 roofs); Harristown SHS (2 roofs); Hervey Bay SHS (4 roofs); Howard SS (1 roof); Kenilworth State College (1 roof); Kenmore SS (2 roofs); Kingston SS (1 roof); Leichhardt SS (4 roofs); Lindum SS (1 roof); Linville SS (1 roof); Lockyer District SHS (3 roofs); Maroochydore SHS (4 roofs); Montville SS (1 roof); Murarrie SS (1 roof); Narangba SS (1 roof); Watson Road SS (1 roof); Wondall Hts SS (2 roofs); Woombye SS (1 roof); Mackay West SS (7 roofs)

Media contact: Greg Milne on 32371000 or 0417791336