by Selwyn Manning

Surprise and disappointment is how Manukau City mayor Sir Barry Curtis describes the decision of a residents group to walk out on a committee set up to solve an asbestos problem.

Tests at the Manukau suburb of FlatBush have shown asbestos contamination of around 1500 residential properties.

The committee consisted of four members of the resident’s Manukau Asbestos Action Group, Government representatives, property developers and Manukau City Council representatives.

Frustrated at the formed group’s preoccupation with managing risks rather than testing and removing asbestos has caused the resident’s representatives to pull out of the committee.

The residents want Manukau City Council to pay for a widespread asbestos cleanup. It says the council allowed property developers to create a suburb at FlatBush all the while knowing asbestos had been dumped there.

But Sir Barry Curtis is disappointed by the withdrawal and is asking the residents to return to the committee and talk.

He says the committee is moving swiftly toward resolving the asbestos problem, but has had to consider scientific processes before it acts.

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