The second stage of asbestos decontamination at the Ainslie shops has begun with the owners of the affected buildings expected to fork out up to $200,000 for the work.
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On Tuesday Work Safety Commission Greg Jones said this would allow the affected shops to stave off demolition for a number of years, although could not say exactly how long.
“The second stage of works at the Ainslie shops is about to commence. This will involve an environmental cleanse above units three and five, as well as the replacement of roof tiling and some other work inside the roof,” Mr Jones said.
“In the long term the buildings will need to be demolished because of the contamination with the loose fill asbestos, but under a management plan a medium term solution can be made.”
The cost of the roof replacement could be between $100,000 and $200,000 and would be footed by property owners, Mr Jones said.
“As a commercial premises the owners are responsible for undertaking these works,” he said.
“The owners have engaged licensed builders and asbestos removal specialists to undertake the works, and Work Safe have monitored their plans and we are satisfied they are appropriate.”
Dangerous "Mr Fluffy" loose-fill asbestos was installed in the second-level ceiling of 1 Edgar Street, above Edgar's Inn, almost 50 years ago.
Investigations in February and March last year showed it had migrated into the ceiling of the neighbouring building, which houses a newsagency and laundromat on the ground floor and a therapeutic massage business on the first floor.
The corner building, No 1, is owned by Jeff Darwin.
Numbers 3, 5 and 7 are owned by the Xyrakis family.
Manuel Xyrakis said he was pleased the clean-up work would finally begin, expecting it to cost as much as $200,000 between himself and Mr Darwin.
He said he did not expect the buildings to be demolished any time soon.
"Every six months we have to do an asbestos report," he said.
"If it's monitored correctly, as far as I'm concerned there is no demolition.
"I think Work Safe says every building does eventually get demolished and replaced. But there is no set date."
Loose-fill asbestos was installed in the ceilings of 1022 homes across the ACT.
It has also been found in two commercial buildings. One of these buildings was a childcare centre, and the other was the Ainslie shops.
The government is buying and demolishing all of the homes, however owners of commercial sites are responsible for their own decontamination.
"We are doing the roof replacement. In our building we have to do an environmental clean," Mr Xyrakis said.
"Between the owner of No 1 and myself it will cost us $200,000 by the time the work is done."
Mr Jones said the second stage of works would continue for about four weeks and would cause minimal disruption to businesses in the area.
“The upper-level shops in the north building will need to close while the roof replacement works take place,” he said.
“A small number of car parking spaces will not also be available for the duration of the works. Trade will be able to safely continue for the rest of the shops.”
Mr Jones said he did not expect work would need to be done over weekends.
