Minister says no documents stolen from NSWMA

More information is emerging on Sunday night's arson attack at the head office of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA).

Following further investigations carried out on Tuesday, Minister with responsibility for Local Government Dr. Horace Chang was informed that none of the agency's documents were stolen during the incident.

According to Dr. Chang, the fire was confined to the records room where documents are stored.

He says a significant number of files were destroyed but there is no evidence that any of the documents was removed by the intruders.

“We have no reports that anything was removed. The archive room was badly damaged, that’s pretty much all the files. The files outside are copies but anything that is closed is stored in those rooms that were badly damaged and we have one computer that was badly damaged,” he said. 

He told RJR News that a report from the Fire Department has not been received.

The Minister says he has requested that it be fast tracked.

In the meantime, it is expected to take two weeks before normality returns to the NSWMA.

Dr. Chang says operations will resume on a phased basis.

“As a result of the damage from both water and fire they have to bring back the staff on a phased basis but work in terms of collection of solid waste continues. But it will take as much as two weeks to restore the head office,” Dr. Chang said.