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DEDICATED TO OLDER LOCALS
NEW MARATHON LAUNCHED
MAY 31 2013 ISSUE 1105
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT CIRCULATION: 59,069
THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
SHOCK SHOOTING The quiet suburb of Castlereagh was awoken by the sound of gunfi re when a late-night attempted home invasion last week turned into a near-deadly shootout. One man was seriously injured in the incident and remains in hospital. In a remarkable twist, it has since been revealed that the victim has previously found himself at the centre of a high profi le shooting drama.
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The O’Farrell family – Ann-Mare, Matthew, baby Chloe and Catherine – speak with Penrith Mayor, Mark Davies on Tuesday. Photo: Melinda Jane.
Asbestos scandal
INSIDE STORY We go behind the scenes at Macca’s PAGE 22
NBN shambles as locals are evacuated from homes
T
CASSANDRA O'CONNOR
wo Penrith families have been evacuated from their homes amid fears they have been exposed to asbestos by Telstra contractors remediating pits for the installation of the National Broadband Network. The Weekender reported on May 17 that Telstra and WorkCover had commenced emergency investigations into allegations that contractors remediating Telstra pits in Hornseywood Avenue, Penrith, had exposed residents to asbestos concrete dust. Emotional representations made by affected
residents to Penrith City Council on Monday night heightened concerns that Telstra and the contractor involved, Service Stream, had done nothing to rectify the situation, three weeks after the residents were fi rst exposed. Troy Lancaster, who lives on the corner of Hornseywood Avenue and Evan Street, said that his family’s lives have been changed forever after they were exposed to dust containing asbestos. “The fact is we were not notified of these works. My wife and my 15-month-old son have been exposed because they were in the front yard, going about their daily lives,” he said. “Who can tell us whether this will cut our lives short? Are we scared for our families? Yes we are.”
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Matthew O’Farrell, who initially raised the alarm on May 7 when he saw workers breaking up concrete asbestos with a hammer, said his family is also very emotional and distressed. “We have asbestos dust over the front lawn, in our cars, in our prams, on the carpet where my six-year-old and 12-week-old lie down and play, even in my shoes I found the dust,” he said. The families met with Telstra and Service Stream last Friday and were given two nights in the Chifley Hotel while remediation of the pits was to occur and were told to return home on Tuesday morning. Story Continues Page Eight
COMPETITION A prize that your nose will love! PAGE 28
Have you y been to Hank’s yet? y Book Now online hanks.net.au WW2296