Update on Asbestos Crisis After Charges Laid in Sydney
Charges have been filed against a developer linked to the asbestos crisis affecting Sydney’s parks and schools
Sydney, Australia, Asbestos, Max Brenner, Arnold Vitocco, NSW EPA
Sydney: A billionaire developer, who also runs the Max Brenner chocolate chain, is in hot water over the asbestos crisis that led to the closure of parks, schools, and hospitals.
This all kicked off when it was discovered that some mulch used in these places contained asbestos, a material that can be really dangerous. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) jumped into action and charged three companies involved.
They found asbestos in mulch at various locations, including schools and parks. The EPA has laid down 102 charges against VE Resource Recovery Pty Ltd and one against its director, Arnold Vitocco.
Two other companies, Freescale Trading Pty Ltd and Runkcorp Pty Ltd, also got hit with 50 charges each. The EPA’s investigation covered 26 of the 79 contaminated sites, starting with Rozelle Parklands.
They checked around 300 sites in total and found several violations, including not having the proper licenses for their activities. Vitocco is facing serious allegations, including failing to manage the company properly.
Freescale and Runkcorp are also accused of operating without a license and even reusing asbestos waste, which is a big no-no. The court date for all this is set for February 7, 2025.
Interestingly, Vitocco runs Vitocco Enterprises, which isn’t implicated in this mess. His company is involved in various sectors, including development and the chocolate cafe chain Max Brenner, which has plans to expand into Asia.