By Olivia McInnes

The Lachlan Shire Council has recently received reports confirming that the site of the former Renown Theatre is in fact contaminated with friable asbestos.
When these fibres are inhaled they can cause serious diseases which can lead to death.
There are four main diseases caused by asbestos: mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening.
A key factor in the risk of developing an asbestos-related disease is the total number of fibres breathed in.
Working on or near damaged asbestos-containing materials or breathing in high levels of asbestos fibres, which may be many hundreds of times that of environmental levels can increase your chances of getting an asbestos-related disease.
The report indicates that cleaning up of the demolition site must be done with the utmost of care to avoid asbestos particles becoming airborne.
General Manager of the Lachlan Shire, George Cowan says “the order placed upon the owner of the Renown Theatre by the Lachlan Shire Council to clean up the site expired on Friday”.
“We are hoping that he will begin cleaning up the site soon, if not we will put some more pressure on.
“If the council has to move in and clean it up it will be at the rate payers expense so we are trying to avoid that.
“We are also trying to restore pedestrian access around the building as that has become a safety concern,” George said.