After hearing that a pilot study of six church sites found that four had loose asbestos, Synod yesterday voted unanimously to pass a new law which will help clean up the risk. 

"This is not to say all properties in the Diocese are dangerous, however when sheeting breaks down… there are significant health risks," said Robert Tong, chairman of the Diocesan Property Trust, in moving the new ordinance.

Mr Tong said the Diocese not only had a legal requirement to comply with the national asbestos management code, but a moral obligation to act quickly.

"There is a moral obligation to ensure that people who use our buildings are not exposed to risk."

The law will see the Diocese administer a management plan, including a survey of church property. This will be funded by a levy on all parishes with property.

Mr Tong said it was best to administer this process centrally, rather than parish by parish, because of the need to engage trained professionals as quickly as possible. He said he expected the Diocese to achieve "significant cost savings' by acting as "a group buying exercise'.

In seconding the motion, Bishop Glenn Davies highlighted how low the cost on parishes would be. The charge will be 0.52% of a parish's net receipts.

"It is fair and equitable to share this cost across all churches," he said, rather than placing a high burden on particular churches.

Other matters

In yesterday's afternoon session, Synod finally signed off the new Diocesan education policy without further amendment.

The Synod also passed a motion praising God for the new Kriol translation of the Bible for the nation's indigenous population.