The Southern Star

Melbourne has had it’s fare share of asbestos tragedies in the past, but this controversial substance has managed to creep it’s way back in to the building industry through poor quality control in material selection and vetting of suppliers.

In Melbourne, there are four new electrical substations with asbestos flooring imported from China. Yarra Trams rushed to secure the four sites after testing found that there is a small risk of exposure to the deadly substance.

Last year, 3 modular electrical substations were built in the CBD, East Brighton, and Thornbury. There is one which is still under construction in West Brunswick. All these substations have white asbestos flooring banned in Australia in the year 2003.

In mid-September, Yarra Trams was told about the illegal presence of asbestos. After receiving this information, it issued a legal notice to show cause to Siemens which was the company contracted to build them. Siemens then subcontracted the work to Adelaide based Robin Johnson Engineering.

Chinese Company Deceived Australian Engineering Firm

Last month, it was found out that Robin Johnson Engineering used asbestos materials in 2 new electrical substations in Adelaide. This is an emerging trend that has made Australia’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication state that this was only the tip of the iceberg.

Robin Johnson who is the company’s managing director said that Siemens and Yarra Trams were notified as soon as the asbestos was found.

He also said that the Chinese supplier had misled his company. However, he refused to give the name of the Chinese supplier.

The South Australian company has claimed that the Chinese supplier had deceived them by providing documentation that the flooring material they delivered was asbestos free.

Yarra Trams testing found that asbestos was present in 7 out of the 24 swab samples from substations Elizabeth Street in the city, Brighton East, and Thornbury. However, it returned a negative air sample.

Thornbury residents complained that the substation built last year had taken up a large chunk of a children’s playground and a small local park.

On Monday, contractors who are certified for asbestos removal Melbourne commenced the safe disposal of the materials wearing full protective equipment and following safe procedures.

Phil Altieri who is the tram division secretary of the Rail, Tram, and the Bus Union said it was extremely disappointing to discover that asbestos was installed even after there was a major program to eliminate it from the tram network in the 1990s.

Simon Murphy, the spokesman or Yarra Trams said that the company had the sites inspected by independent experts who concluded that the risk of exposure to people who enter the site and the general public is negligible.

If you are more of a nature lover – here are some awesome activities outside the CBD that you can do around Melbourne.

Squeaky Beach

Lots of folks love going to the beach, but the sounds aren’t usually the main attraction. This isn’t the case at Squeaky Beach, where the unique composition of the white quartz sand gives every step a delightful sound. Beautiful rock formations north of the beach also provide one of the region’s best locales for finding wild wombats.

 

Mira Mira

Looking for a getaway that’s something different? Head to Gippsland and check out the retreats at Mira Mira. Each of the two-bedroom units in the complex is a fantastic dreamscape composed by a talented artist. Take a vacation from normalcy and experience what it’s like to live inside art.

Meet A Platypus

The platypus is an iconic creature that’s well known both inside and outside Australia’s borders. If you’ve never met one face to face, you can correct that oversight by visiting the Healesville Sanctuary. The Sanctuary’s platypus pool offers you a decidedly hands-on encounter with the platypus, and you’ll be free to play, feed, and cuddle them to your heart’s content.

Peninsula Hot Springs

Thermal springs always make great tourist attractions, and Mornington Peninsula boasts the country’s only natural heated mineral springs. The healing waters of the Springs come out of a pure water source nearly half a kilometre beneath the Peninsula, and you can take full advantage of a whole range of day spa services if you choose to unwind by taking the waters.

Pine Mountain

If you’re looking for a challenging outback trek, make your way to Pine Mountain in the Murray Region. The core of the mountain is a gigantic granite monolith that, if unearthed, would be even larger than Uluru. Bring your best hiking skills if you intend to climb the mountain – it’s not a trail for first-timers!

Tree Surfing

Have sharks put you off the idea of hitting the waves on the beach? You can still get a thrilling day of exercise at this aerial obstacle course sited on the Mornington Peninsula. With courses divided into five tiers covering more than 50 different individual obstacles, you’ll be sure to find something challenging and rewarding.

Herring Island

A perfect target for a modest boating excursion, Herring Island is well worth a visit when you’re in Downtown Melbourne. This man-made island in the Yarra River is one of the city’s best-kept secrets. Natural beauty abounds, and you can also spend quite a few hours exploring the stone sculpture park housed on the island.

Nine Levels Of Darkness

If you’re curious about what’s beneath the surface, there’s no better way to satisfy your interest than a trip to the Central Deborah Gold Mines. This historic mine was a mainstay of local production during the Gold Rush, and today it’s preserved as Australia’s deepest underground tour. The trip will take you over 60 metres beneath the ground – not recommended for the claustrophobic!

Bay Of Islands

Located just past 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, the Bay Of Islands is a terrific coastal park that can provide you with some of the best beaches in the region. They’re often uninhabited, which makes it easy to enjoy some time on your own.

The bay’s topography leans heavily towards steep cliffs and high rocks. There’s a boat ramp available, but keep in mind it’s very steep. If you visit in the right season, you’ll get a look at some of the area’s most beautiful wildflowers.

Tower Hill

Not far from the Bay Of Islands, you’ll find Tower Hill. This geological formation is the remnant of a major volcanic eruption that happened over 30,000 years ago. The funnel-shaped valley this eruption carved out is now home to an island-filled lake and numerous creeks.

More interesting to visitors, Tower Hill is also a national park that boasts some outstanding wildlife. The valley’s kangaroo population is roughly 200 animals, and there are also echidnas, emus, koalas, and a variety of waterbirds.

Here are some terrific City based sights and activities to occupy yourself with the next time you swing through Melbourne CBD.

Tram Sessions

A unique fixture of the Melbourne tram system, Tram Sessions is a musical organization that’s dedicated to hooking up local musicians with free mobile shows on trams all over the city.

Running into Tram Sessions isn’t easy to plan out, but if you happen to see a crowd of folks unpacking acoustic instruments in your tram car, you might want to skip your scheduled stop and hang on for the show.

Pop Up Patch

Check out a little bit of Melbourne’s environmental spirit at this community garden housed on the rooftop of the carpark at Federation Square. Pop Up Patch is a growing concern – in more ways than one – that specializes in providing the public with personalized vegetable-growing plots right in the heart of the city.

The Patch currently boasts more than 140 individual plots housed in recycled apple crates, and the vast majority of them are available for leasing.

Silent Cinema

A clever idea that’s well worth a look, the Silent Cinema is a regular feature in Southgate. The intimate screening room seats just 60 people, but the big attraction here is the venue’s headphones-only policy. You’ll be provided with a personal set of headphones so that you get the perfect mix of big screen visuals and stereo sound without any distractions from your fellow cinephiles.

Switchboard Cafe

The best part of a vibrant downtown is the little treasures you find tucked away. They don’t come any littler than the Switchboard Cafe, located on Collins St. This micro-restaurant prides itself by operating out of a storage cupboard. Seating is, as you’d expect, minimal, but the quality of the cafe’s coffee is tough to beat.

Mailbox 141

Another downtown mini-attraction that’s worth a quick look is this pint-sized gallery on Flinders Street. Converted from a bank of mailboxes in a foyer, now this piece of variable installation art showcases a splendid range of local artists’ works in its glassed-in cubbyholes. Featured artists change frequently, so stopping by every few months is a great idea.

This amateur video shot by a woman who lives in a Melbourne apartment. Something about this video really pulls me in, it really feels like Melbourne, the good and the bad.

 

This next video is a bit more professionally shot, but from the first person, it doesn’t have narration, but the video creator does a great job of showcasing new and old treasured of Melbourne CBD.

 

Anyone who has ever looked for travel tours on YouTube, will always come across Expedia’s videos. This video is highly narrated and gives you a real plan for your week in Melbourne.