Work has been delayed on construction of Canberra Grammar School's $8 million Asian century centre after bonded asbestos was found in pieces of cemented material on the Red Hill campus.
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The find was made by the construction company beneath the top layer of soil of the excavation area within the senior school campus late last week, with parents informed by email on Monday the risk of asbestos exposure to students and staff was negligible.
Canberra Grammar School principal Justin Garrick said a small number of hand-sized pieces of the cemented material had been found.
"It appears to be a single spot of broken cladding or some kind of tile or something that's been broken," Mr Garrick said. "Such findings on construction sites are not unusual and our construction contractors use licensed experts to test any areas affected and to remove any material in compliance with ACT Government regulations."
A statement provided to parents from consultants Robson Environmental said an assessment of the scope of the contamination and options for its removal was about to begin, with all related work to happen outside of school hours either on weekends or after school hours during weekdays.
"As the soil will be disturbed during the asbestos removal, dust control measures, such as spraying the soil with water will also be used," the statement said.
"Air quality monitoring will also be undertaken in conjunction with all work to assess the effectiveness of dust control measures."
The risk of exposure was described as negligible as the asbestos was in bonded form, unlikely to be disturbed until removed and the area had been isolated.
A mesh construction fence surrounds the excavation area, with the cemented materials found near a bike shed removed in recent weeks. There are about 950 boys on the senior school campus, with December 6 the final day of school.
ACT Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said he was not personally aware of the Canberra Grammar find, but bonded asbestos posed very low risk as long as it was handled appropriately.
"In that case - when bonded asbestos of that nature is found - it can be handled appropriately outside hours, but quite frankly it would be fine to be removed during school hours by licensed removalists," Mr McCabe said.
