More than 150 former Mr Fluffy blocks in Canberra to go under the hammer in March

A further 157 former Mr Fluffy blocks in Canberra are to be sold via auction in March, adding to the 153 remediated blocks already been offered for sale.

The ACT government had in 2015 marked more than 1,000 Canberra homes contaminated by Mr Fluffy asbestos. The list included blocks where potentially hazardous loose-fill asbestos was installed as insulation by the Canberra-based Mr Fluffy company in the 1960s and 1970s.

The first blocks were released in April 2016, and as of February 3, 129 blocks out of the 153 had sold, according to a post in Domain.com.au. 

The 24 remaining blocks are available over the counter at the valuation price.

The blocks to be auctioned in March range from 562 sqm to 2,143 sqm and will be sold through partner agents Civium Property Group and Independent Property Group.

Auctions will take place every week throughout March. The first properties will be auctioned on Tuesday, March 7, when 27 Weston Creek blocks go under the hammer.

Civium Property Group chief executive Doug O’Mara was cited by Domain as saying that there was a high demand from families, downsizers and builders.

“The blocks are in Canberra’s established suburbs and there are some large parcels of land available,” O’Mara said. 

About 100 of these blocks are in Woden and Weston Creek, with the rest spread throughout the inner north, inner south and Belconnen.

Blue ribbon addresses in Griffith, Red Hill, Campbell and Reid are among the properties on offer.

At least 10 former Mr Fluffy blocks have sold for more than $1 million. Three of these were in Griffith and two were in Red Hill.

Large blocks in Campbell, Garran, Hawker and Hughes have also sold for more than $1 million.

Under the Mr Fluffy planning rules, blocks more than 700 sqm can be divided in two and used for two houses. A majority are more than 700 sqm.

Demolitions of the 1,022 houses across 56 Canberra suburbs have been identified as Mr Fluffy homes and demolitions will continue over the next few years.

The resale phase includes a first right of refusal process, which allows the owner to return and rebuild on their remediated block.

An ACT Asbestos Response Taskforce spokeswoman said the public sales would help minimise the overall cost of the scheme and the new homes would help reinvigorate communities.