Scheduled excavation work to remove asbestos from Dave Taylor Park has been delayed.
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Griffith City Council have decided to postpone further progress on the mound due to mounting opposition to the project from the Pioneer community.
"We're happy because we feel like they've heard us," Leonie Kawelmacher from Pioneer said.
"All we have asked is for them to stop until we can all come to an agreement.
"We have asked that we keep our park and the that they leave the asbestos under the mound as it is."
Fencing was erected at 9.30am on Monday morning to cordon off the western end of Dave Taylor Park to begin excavation works this week.
However, soon after, it was removed.
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Griffith City Council general manager Brett Stonestreet confirmed the delay in the work in a statement to The Area News.
"There were several members of the public in attendance on site on Monday morning when site fencing was to be erected," the statement said.
"Views expressed on site by some in attendance prompted works to be postponed.
"Further engagement with members of the community in the Pioneer area are underway this week."
A petition signed by around 300 residents of Pioneer and members of the broader community was submitted to Council February 22, calling for further development for the Griffin Green Housing project to be halted.
Pastor Matthew Vrancic from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Griffith, who supported the petition, expressed gratitude for council's decision not to proceed at this stage.
"We thank God and people of goodwill across Griffith for their support," Pastor Vrancic said.
"This will give the community time to have proper input regarding the future of their park and assess the risks of disturbing the asbestos under the mound.
"We thank council for listening to the will of the almost 300 residents who signed the petition two weeks ago."
However, Mr Stonestreet explained the mound posed a safety risk to the community and needed to be removed regardless of whether or not it was necessary for the Griffin Green housing development.
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