A community health hub in Canberra’s city centre is estimated to stay closed for another four weeks as asbestos testing and remediation work is under way.
In an update on the temporary closure, Infrastructure Canberra has said the City Health Centre might not reopen until August 7.
The City Health Centre, on the corner of Alinga Street and Moore Street, remains closed for further testing. Picture by Melissa Adams
The building, located on the corner of Alinga Street and Moore Street, is also home to the MSI Canberra Abortion and Contraception Clinic, BreastScreen ACT, the CanTEST pill testing service and the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN).
The site’s temporary closure began on July 1 after testing on June 29 determined materials found in the building’s plant room contained asbestos.
Infrastructure Canberra said additional monitoring, testing and specialist investigations have continued since the closure was announced.
Initial tests showed several busy areas across multiple floors were clear of asbestos-containing materials, even with the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system running normally, the government agency’s update on Thursday evening, July 9, said.
However, results from the rest of the testing program remain pending and – based on advice from specialist consultants – the building cannot be used while cleaning and remediation activities are under way.
Infrastructure Canberra said experts, test results, and cleanup progress would determine when the building could reopen.
“Current estimates indicate the closure may be required until 7 August to allow remediation works to be completed and to ensure the building can be safely reoccupied,” the update said.
“The health and safety of building occupants, staff and visitors remains the highest priority.”
Infrastructure Canberra said it was working with the Health and Community Services Directorate, Canberra Health Services and Economic Development to support affected tenants and minimise disruption for essential services.
All patient appointments scheduled at the City Health Centre,have been or will be rescheduled, a notice on the Canberra Health Services website said.
A free drug-checking pop-up site has been set up in the Directions Health Services office at Woden, the CanTEST team announced on their social media.
Construction of the building, originally for the ACT Health Service, began in the 1970s before self-government, when asbestos was still widely used in building products in Australia.
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