Asbestos discovery closes seniors centre

Activities and classes at the Ettalong Beach Senior Citizens Centre have been relocated to other facilities after asbestos was found in the building's air conditioning system.

Gosford Council's director of community services and organisational development Mr Terry Thirlwell said a small amount of asbestos had been discovered by council following a routine inspection of the building.

He said the centre was closed immediately after the discovery of asbestos around three weeks ago.

Mr Thirlwell said as part of Occupational Health and Safety practices council is required by law to undertake an asbestos management program to monitor older buildings within the Gosford Local Government Area.

He said council was currently in the process of calling on tenders to replace the air conditioning system and remove the asbestos.

"The centre will be reopened to the public once the appropriate work has been carried out on the building to be deemed safe," Mr Thirlwell said.

"In the meantime, services provided by the centre have been relocated to other facilities within the Gosford LGA to minimise disruption to users of the Ettalong Seniors Centre."

The closure of Ettalong Senior Citizens Centre follows the shut-down of Gosford Senior Citizens Centre and Gosford Library in recent months due to asbestos.

For more information on changes to services and activities at Ettalong Senior Citizens Centre, contact council on 4325 8222.

Clare Graham, 26 Mar 2009 Interviewee: Terry Thirlwell, Gosford Council