Update provided by Infrastructure Canberra on 14 July:
"Dear tenants,
We recognise that the ongoing closure of 1 Moore Street has been disruptive and challenging for staff, service providers and the community members who rely on services delivered from the building. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as this work continues.
Following the identification of asbestos-containing material (ACM) within a plant room, specialist consultants have continued monitoring, testing and investigative work throughout the building.
Preliminary results indicate that some occupied areas across multiple floors are clear of ACM under normal operating conditions, including with the HVAC systems operating.
Results from the remainder of the testing program are currently pending.
Based on the advice of the specialist consultants, the building will need to remain closed while cleaning and remediation activities are undertaken. Current estimates indicate the closure may be required up to 7 August to ensure the building can be safely reoccupied.
We understand this extended closure will create additional pressures for tenant organisations and staff. Please be assured that Infrastructure Canberra is working closely with Health and Community Services Directorate, Canberra Health Services and Economic Development to support tenants and help maintain critical services during this period.
Work is also underway to establish safe access arrangements for a short period so tenants can retrieve or access essential equipment, records and materials where required to support ongoing service delivery. Further information on these arrangements will be provided as they are finalised.
The health and safety of building occupants, staff and visitors remain our highest priority. Decisions regarding access to and reoccupation of the building will continue to be guided by specialist advice and the outcomes of ongoing testing, cleaning and remediation activities.
We appreciate the uncertainty that situations like this can cause and are committed to keeping you informed. Further updates will be provided as additional testing results become available and key milestones in the remediation process are reached.
Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation."
Update provided by Infrastructure Canberra as of 9 July 2026:
"Dear tenants,
We recognise that the ongoing closure of 1 Moore Street has been disruptive and challenging for staff, service providers and the community members who rely on services delivered from the building. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as this work continues.
Following the identification of asbestos-containing material (ACM) within a plant room, specialist consultants have continued monitoring, testing and investigative work throughout the building.
Preliminary results indicate that some occupied areas across multiple floors are clear of ACM under normal operating conditions, including with the HVAC systems operating.
Results from the remainder of the testing program are currently pending.
Based on the advice of the specialist consultants, the building will need to remain closed while cleaning and remediation activities are undertaken. Current estimates indicate the closure may be required up to 7 August to ensure the building can be safely reoccupied.
We understand this extended closure will create additional pressures for tenant organisations and staff. Please be assured that Infrastructure Canberra is working closely with Health and Community Services Directorate, Canberra Health Services and Economic Development to support tenants and help maintain critical services during this period.
Work is also underway to establish safe access arrangements for a short period so tenants can retrieve or access essential equipment, records and materials where required to support ongoing service delivery. Further information on these arrangements will be provided as they are finalised.
The health and safety of building occupants, staff and visitors remain our highest priority. Decisions regarding access to and reoccupation of the building will continue to be guided by specialist advice and the outcomes of ongoing testing, cleaning and remediation activities.
We appreciate the uncertainty that situations like this can cause and are committed to keeping you informed. Further updates will be provided as additional testing results become available and key milestones in the remediation process are reached.
Thank you again for your understanding and cooperation.
[Infrastructure Canberra]"
Here is an overview of prior events:
Infrastructure Canberra who operates the building at 1 Moore Street as a landlord to CBRIN has provided us with the following advice on 29 June 2026:
"As part of maintenance activities today, dust-like material has been identified within a plant room in 1 Moore Street, Canberra City. The plant room was immediately isolated and the material sampled for testing.
Results received this afternoon have confirmed the presence of asbestos-containing material (ACM) within the plant room.
On the advice of specialist consultants, and as a precaution while further atmospheric testing is undertaken, the building will remain closed tomorrow (Tuesday 30 June).
Testing across all floors is scheduled to occur tomorrow and we will provide an update once the results are available and further advice is received.
Our immediate priority is to ensure the health and safety of all occupants and we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the environment is safe."
On 30 June in the afternoon, the advice was updated to:
"Further to our advice yesterday regarding the temporary closure of 1 Moore Street following the identification of asbestos-containing material (ACM) within a plant room, monitoring, testing, and specialist investigations are continuing.
Based on the advice of the specialist consultants engaged to assess the situation, the building will remain closed on Wednesday, 1 July and Thursday, 2 July.
We will provide a further update as soon as the next steps have been confirmed.
The health and safety of all building occupants remain our highest priority. Decisions regarding reoccupation of the building will continue to be guided by expert advice and the outcomes of ongoing testing and investigations."
3 July 2026:
"Closure extended pending further work
Further to our previous communications regarding the temporary closure of 1 Moore Street following the identification of asbestos-containing material (ACM) within a plant room, we would like to provide the following update.
Based on the advice of the specialist consultants engaged to undertake further monitoring, testing and investigations, 1 Moore Street will remain closed to and including Friday, 10 July.
Additional monitoring, testing and specialist investigations will continue during this period. The health and safety of all building occupants remain the highest priority, and any decision regarding reoccupation of the building will continue to be guided by expert advice.
We will provide a further update as soon as next steps are confirmed.
Please ensure this information is shared with your teams and that no one attends the site during this period unless explicitly advised."
CBRIN team continues to operate remotely and apologises for the inconvenience and business disruption this causes to the innovation community members who use and are scheduled to use the space.
We are working with our Foundation Members and the ACT Government to arrange alternative spaces for companies and users of our space to utilise. Our team is working hard to make this work for all involved, and any affected member of the innovation community can reach out to us at enquiries@cbrin.com.au for assistance.
Thank you everyone for your understanding.
