NTER Container Accommodation
Latest News
- The Department has reached agreement with the supplier of the containers, Royal Wolf, to put in place a remediation strategy to ensure all containers are safe for use.
- Following a trial in the community of Peppimenarti, the Department and Royal Wolf have now agreed to proceed with the remediation of all the containers.
- Following remediation the Department will arrange for independent air quality testing of the containers by a firm of experts in property and built environment pollutants (CETEC). No one will enter or occupy containers, other than for the purpose of remediation and testing until testing demonstrates acceptable air quality levels.
- The Department plans to have all containers remediated and ready for use before the end of November.
- The Department has made significant progress in implementing all of the 16 recommendations made by Mr Tony Blunn in his Report into the performance of the Department in responding to the container accommodation air quality issues.
Situation Update (last updated 24/09/08)
- On 14 August, the Department received Comcare’s approval to occupy the 11% of containers where air quality in those containers was within acceptable levels. Government Business Managers (GBMs) in 5 of the 24 affected communities have now been able to use these containers.
- National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) has advised that the formaldehyde detected in the tested converted containers housing Australian Government staff is unlikely to cause long-term health effects. This advice was endorsed by the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer.
- The Secretary of FaHCSIA, Dr Jeff Harmer, appointed Tony Blunn AO (former Secretary of the Attorney General’s; Social Security; Arts, Sport, Environment and Territories; and, Housing and Construction Departments) to conduct an independent external review of the circumstances leading to the problems in the accommodation containers. The purpose of his review was to provide recommendations to address any deficiencies in procedures, structures or communications and to ensure a rapid response to occupational health and safety issues in the future. The report was provided to the Department in June 2008. Report by AS Blunn AO - June 2008 - PDF [142kB]
- FaHCSIA engaged CETEC to conduct further testing on the containers. Report by CETEC - June 2008
- Minister Macklin has released a report prepared by FaHCSIA officers detailing the Department’s response from 8 November 2007, when concerns were first raised by staff about an odour, to 10 April 2008, the date when a report from the container accommodation supplier, Royal Wolf Trading Australia Pty Ltd, revealed elevated levels of formaldehyde in a container the company tested. NTER Container Accommodation Report
- Major General Chalmers has written to all government and non-government organisations who had staff who stayed in the NTER container accommodation to advise them of the situation and support available.
- All 26 affected staff have been housed in alternative accommodation since 10 April 2008.
- Comcare has placed a prohibition notice on all containers not considered safe following the CETEC testing of the air quality in all the containers in June.
- It is anticipated that all the container accommodation will be remediated by Royal Wolf over the next six weeks. Subject to Comcare agreeing to lift the prohibition notice on the remediated containers, we would expect all the remediated containers in communities to be available for use before the end of November.
- Demountable accommodation is currently being transported and installed in all communities which currently have container accommodation. It is envisaged that the demountables will be available for use in all these communities before the end of 2008.
Assistance
The safety and wellbeing of staff is the highest priority for FaHCSIA. All staff have been encouraged to undertake health checks as a precautionary measure. The costs of these health checks will be met by FaHCSIA.
Staff have been supported to find alternative accommodation at the community level or at the closest centre to their community.
If you have visited the NTER container accommodation and have concerns about your health, you are encouraged to contact FaHCSIA’s Occupational Health and Safety team to discuss your situation. FaHCSIA will ensure you are kept informed about any future developments.
Further Information