WESTCONNEX Action Group (WAG) has joined the call for a halt to work on WestCONnex following revelations that asbestos-laden material has been used to construct the toll road.

The damning claims were revealed by ABC News last night after a former employee of Sydney excavation company Moits said it had supplied road base contaminated with the deadly substance to the WestConnex project. 

“Work on WestCONnex must be halted immediately while a full investigation into the use of this potentially lethal road base goes ahead,” said WAG spokesperson Sharon Laura. 

“Construction of the WestCONnex tollway is taking place next to thousands of people’s homes, and involves hundreds of construction workers. If the material used is contaminated with asbestos, then thousands of men, women and children are now at risk. 

“It’s not acceptable for Premier Mike Baird to risk the lives of thousands of people just to build a tollway, and he must stop work on WestCONnex while an investigation takes place.” 

Ms Laura said that the latest revelations reinforced the need for a full inquiry into the $17 billion tollway project.

“This is just the latest in a string of scandals that have plagued WestCONnex. In the last week alone, we’ve seen damning revelations made about WestCONnex’s compulsory acquisitions, its imminent destruction of critically endangered bushland, and now that its road base is contaminated with deadly asbestos.

“Enough is enough. The people of NSW deserve better. 

“We repeat our call for an immediate halt to work on the WestCONnex tollway, and a full and independent inquiry into the project,” said Ms Laura. 

Media contacts: Sharon Laura 0417 022 553, Pauline Lockie 0414 470 106

Background material: bit.ly/abcasbestos, bit.ly/smhforest, bit.ly/smhacquisitions