Environmental health concerns continue to plague the ABC’s Brisbane offices, with documents leaked that show the environmental consultants employed during construction of the new ABC headquarters at South Bank, Brisbane, temporarily resigned over concerns that environmental health issues had not been addressed in effort to cut costs.

 

The new headquarters were built after the offices at Toowong were abandoned in 2006 after at least 18 women employees in the building developed breast cancer.

 

Documents leaked to the AM program reveal that the environmental consultants, Cundall, repeatedly complained to the builders, Leighton Contractors, and architects that environmental measures were being bypassed to cut costs.

 

In 2010, Cundall resigned, complaining that its advice was being ignored, but recommenced work on the project a few months later.  Areas of concern identified by the consultants included the quality of air conditioning, mould prevention, and ventilation systems.

 

ABC Managing Director, Mark Scott, has issued a statement to staff, saying that the building meets the environmental and energy standards planned when it was designed.

 

"To the best of our knowledge and advice, we have headquarters in Brisbane that provides a safe and healthy working environment for our staff.”