Mr Fluffy Clean-Up Program Rolls Out in NSW

For anyone covered by Albury City Council and Wagga Wagga City (and the 26 other Councils in NSW) that has a house built prior to 1980, you can register to have the insulation in your roof tested for loose asbestos (aka Mr Fluffy) for free.

The best way to stay informed about the program is to register with the NSW Department of Fair Trading. You can register online by visiting the Department of Fair Trading website or by telephoning the NSW Department of Fair Trading on: 13 77 88.

If loose asbestos is found, the government is offering a voluntary Purchase and Demolition program with the options of either:

Option 1:

Purchasing the dwelling (just the dwelling itself, not the land) at market value which is valued as though there was no asbestos present, demolishing the dwelling, remediating the land and giving it back to you so you can rebuild.

Option 2:

is purchasing the land and dwelling, demolishing dwelling, remediating the land and selling the property. Have a look at the NSW Department of Fair Trading website or give them a call to check out the criteria in more detail. For those that qualify, there is also an assistance program available to assist with temporary relocation, counselling etc.

Both options might not be available to you so it is best to contact the Department for more information. It is important to note that the cut-off date for registrations is: 1 August 2016, so don’t delay!

The damage asbestos can do is profound - Asbestosis, Mesothelioma and other related Dust Diseases have harrowing effect on both the sufferer and their loved ones. It can take years before any symptoms show up and any exposure, no matter how small should be ignored. Slater & Gordon offer a free register so you can record exposure to asbestos (whether Mr Fluffy or not), just click here: Slater and Gordon Registry. There is also a National register run by the government which can be found by clicking here: Government Registry.

Recalling the dates, times and places of exposure to asbestos will become harder the more years that go by and you may need to pin point with some degree of accuracy those details at some time in the future, so if you or anyone you know has been exposed please consider registration with one or both of those databases. It is also important to discuss a potential exposure with your General Practitioner so it is recorded.

For more details in relation to the free loose asbestos check, please go to the NSW Department of Fair Trading page, located here: Department of Fair Trading.