This is from Cross Yarra Partnership (CYP) on the asbestos issue adjacent to The Botanica

• Last Friday, asbestos was discovered in a pipe under the southbound lane of St Kilda Road during works on the Metro Tunnel.
• The discovered pipe was made of ACM (asbestos containing material) and is 70m in length and 100mm in diameter.
• This area is in the construction work site that has been fenced off from the public since 14 February.
• Since the discovery, the construction team has obtained specialist advice which determined the pipe should be left undisturbed, as the asbestos within the pipe was identified as non-airborne.
• The material has been contained, and there is no health or safety risk to the public or workers.
• Preparations for its removal started yesterday.  Plastic sheeting has been established around the site and air monitoring is in place as standard practice.
• It will be safely removed over the coming days (they’re expecting it to take 2-3 days).
• Asbestos was regularly used in construction until the 1980s, so discoveries like these are not uncommon or unexpected.
• The asbestos is being safely removed in accordance with strict statutory requirements by licensed experts.

If you have concerns you can call their 24 hour hotline on 1800 105 105