FIREFIGHTERS fear a derelict Werribee school could again catch fire and spread deadly asbestos fibres unless it is demolished or cleared of hazardous materials.
Werribee CFA captain Michael Wells claims the vacant Glen Devon Primary School, which has become home to squatters and is a hot-bed for vandalism, poses a threat to the community.
Mr Wells said the Golden Avenue campus had become a cause of concern for nearby residents since a deliberately lit fire gutted the buildings last November.
“The Werribee fire brigade has been contacted by many local residents regarding the Glen Devon site,” he said.
“Security fences at the site have been tampered with, boarded-up windows have been prised open and there are a number of rooms that contain old rubber mattresses. It is a haven for squatters and has easy access for vandals to enter buildings.”
Mr Wells said his crew would be exposed to deadly asbestos in the event of a fire. “If another fire occurs at the property, it would endanger the public and our firefighters.”
He urged Education Minister Martin Dixon to secure the site, and remove mattresses and other items that would fuel a fire, until a decision was made on its future use.
“Ideally, the buildings would be demolished if they are not going to be used,” Mr Wells said.
The school has been left in disrepair since it merged with Glen Orden Primary at the end of 2010.
Tarneit MP Tim Pallas said after two years in office, the government needed to commit to a future use of the site. “The Glen Devon site has sat empty, burnt down, and become a derelict dumping ground.”
Mr Dixon said the department had conducted a cost-benefit analysis in December to determine the feasibility of retaining the fire-damaged facilities for education purposes. But nine months on, the fate of the site remains undecided. He said the department was liaising with interested parties including Wyndham Council, which wants to use the site as a community education centre.
“In the event that neither any government department [nor] the Wyndham City Council have an interest in the site, the site will be offered for sale to the public,” Mr Dixon said.
Nearby resident John Montgomery said it was only a matter of time before the disused school, which attracted vandals and squatters every night, went up in flames again.
“As sure as God made little green apples, someone will set fire to it,” he said. “There’s that much asbestos in the roof, the last time the fire went up, the smoke was just so black.”
Mr Montgomery, who lives in Silver Street and used to work at the school, doubted that keeping the site for educational purposes was a viable option.
“They’ve cut the chains off, windows have been smashed. They’ve taken the wiring, taps, even floorboards. It’s beyond repair.”
Education Department spokesman Stuart Teather said options for the site were still being considered.
