MERRI-BEK: Brunswick ‘black mould’ report goes unanswered by Council, owner
Reports of black mould at an organisation’s Brunswick property have gone unanswered by Merri-bek Council and the owner.
At 3.53pm Friday (Oct. 30) Eren Cakmakkaya, Unit Manager of the Council’s Communications department, said the Council “will need more time to consider your request” for comment on the report. Wriitten questions had been lodged with the Council at 4.02am on Friday (Oct. 30).
The Local Paper has been told that the property has been closed until further notice. It is unclear whether the Council or the property owner have informed neighbours of any potential health risk.
A request by The Local Paper of the property owner to verify the existence of black mould had gone unanswered at the time of going to press.
Black mould can become airborne and it can affect neighbours. Mould reproduces by releasing microscopic spores into the air. Because these spores are incredibly lightweight, any slight air movement can carry them through structures and ventilation systems.
Enquiries to the property owner, Merri-bek Council and the Department of Health, asked on Friday morning (Oct. 30) remained unanswered at the newspaper’s production deadline of 4pm Friday.
Mould spores can trigger nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, sore throats, and respiratory infections, as well as worsen asthma and allergic conditions. Infants, young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, severe asthma, or chronic lung diseases face higher risks.
• Escalated health risks: Neighbors who are elderly, immunocompromised, or suffer from respiratory conditions (like asthma) can develop severe symptoms purely from shared ambient air or tracking spores.
• Mycotoxin Exposure: Toxic black mould produces trichothecene mycotoxins, which can cause chronic respiratory issues, severe headaches, skin irritation, and chronic fatigue in people living in close proximity
Questions asked by The Local Paper of the property owners included:
• When did you first become aware of the mould or moisture issues at this property?
• Is the building in danger of demolition?
• What specific actions were taken immediately after the problem was reported, and on what dates?
• What is the root cause of the moisture (for example, structural leaks, rising damp, poor ventilation), and has a certified building surveyor or structural engineer verified this?
• What budget has been allocated for maintenance or structural repairs on this building over the past three fiscal years?
• Why did previous remediation attempts – if any – fail to permanently resolve the mould issue?
• What health professionals have been engaged by … the building’s administrators to address the health issues at this building? When did their appointment take place? When did they first attend at the site regarding this black mould problem?
• Have all [people] who have attended that building, in – say – the past 12 months, been notified? When did this take place?
• What specific actions were taken immediately after the problem was reported, to promptly and responsibly inform neighbours, and on what dates? Please provide examples of written notifications to people in the nearby precinct. How many neighbouring properties were notified, and when? Has financial and/or other assistance been offered or provided to nearby people, to assist with any medical and testing costs they may incur?
An ABC News report from several years ago reported on black mould problems in other buildings in Melbourne. Black mould was uncovered in the walls of defective apartment blocks, in what experts described as an “absolute catastrophe”. Workers laid bare wall cavities riddled with black mould and rotten timber in poorly constructed buildings that were assessed under Victoria’s cladding rectification regime. One of the buildings identified internal framework was substantially rotted out by water damage and mould. Experts said the buildings could be deemed worthless. The buildings were described as potential ‘write-offs’.
More to come.