The shops were closed on Thursday when asbestos-related material found in an air-conditioning duct months ago had potentially been disturbed in the recent refurbishments and was possibly blowing into the outlets.

A spokeswoman for the centre's owners, Mirvac Real Estate Investment Trust, had said there was minimal risk to the public. But the air-handling unit was shut down, all air registers serviced by the duct were sealed and the shops were closed while the area was decontaminated and tested.

No official alert was raised.

The tests for Cooleman Court Newsagency, Weston Creek Laundromat and Canberra Dry Cleaners have since come back negative for asbestos.

As a result, the owner of the newsagency decided to reopen yesterday, but would not comment on the scare or how it had impacted on business.

The Weston Creek Laundromat and Canberra Dry Cleaners are expected to open today and it is not known when the Hagi Baba takeaway will reopen.

For more, pick up a copy of today's Canberra Times