December 3rd, 2004

A Bagot community has declared that there is no money available for the demolition of an old building that contains asbestos. The community is particularly concerned because local children are using the derelict and contaminated building to play in, and unless the old house can be demolished as soon as possible there is risk that someone could be seriously harmed through asbestos exposure.

"Our concerns are we need to get rid of the building," said a community official. Concerns were raised over a decade ago, and the community was told that the building needed to come down. However, the community has confirmed that there is still no cash or funding to bring own the hazardous building.

"At this stage you need experts to get rid of it - we haven't got the funds, we haven't got the money to do it," added the community official. However, according to the Northern Territory Government, nobody from the community has made any approach to them for funding.

The concerns stem from the various dangers posed by asbestos, which is linked with a variety of illnesses and disease. One of the major diseases caused by asbestos exposure is mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that does not manifest itself for several decades following exposure to the asbestos.