After a week-long delay, following the discovery asbestos during excavation works, the redevelopment of McLachlan Park resumed last Wednesday June 1. Clarence Valley Council’s works and civil director, Troy Anderson, said work stopped immediately when contractors uncovered a section of broken asbestos water pipe in the soil that was used to fill the site, circa 1991. “We stopped work and put measures in place to make sure none of the asbestos could become airborne,” Mr Anderson said in a media release. “This included wetting the site and covering the stockpile. “We notified the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and prepared an asbestos control plan, which has now been approved by the EPA. “We will follow that control plan and the removal of the asbestos-containing material should be routine.” Mr Anderson said asbestos-contaminated soil from the site would be taken to the regional landfill, where there was a designated asbestos control point. “I commend the contractors and everyone involved for the measured and responsible way this has been handled,” he said. “Our number one priority has been public safety, and that has been achieved.” Meanwhile, the council is exhibiting a development application (DA) for the “demolition of toilet blocks, construct three timber decks and remove eight adult and 30 juvenile Casuarina trees”. The development application can be inspected at the council’s Maclean and Grafton offices during office hours. Submissions close at 4pm, June 17, 2016. Written submissions should be addressed to the general manager. “Where a submission is an objection to a proposed development, the submission must set out the grounds for the objection,” the council’s advertisement states.