Clubs in Dark

BRISBANE City Council has identified more than 60 asbestos-affected sporting and community clubs but many say they have not been told there's a problem.

The buildings, also leased by arts and school groups, are considered asbestos risks requiring regular monitoring.

The council said there was no danger from the asbestos and claimed all had been informed but at least a dozen contacted by The Courier-Mail were either unaware of the problem or did not know it was their responsibility.

"We don't know about it. I've never seen any documents," Queensland Sporting Club general manager Michael Sullivan said.

Morningside AFL clubhouse maintenance coordinator Leo Wallin also had not heard of the asbestos contamination but said the council should fix it.

Brisbane Institute of Art manager Peter Shaw said the council had an inspection years ago but there was no mention of asbestos.

"This is a shock. When we moved into the building 10 years ago the council told us the building was safe so I assumed there was no asbestos," he said.

The council said "high risk" facilities had been dealt with but would not reveal the risk rating of individual clubs.

Community Services chairwoman Geraldine Knapp said the council had written to "every single club".

"We've let them know their responsibility in terms of dealing with it," she said.

"We're only passing on the state legislation to these people."

Cr Knapp said funding had been set aside in the budget to manage asbestos if any of the clubs planned to undertake renovations.

The Queensland Asbestos-Related Disease Support Society said the council was "shirking" its responsibility by leaving it to clubs, which weren't qualified to monitor the risk.

"It's a plan fraught with danger," secretary Ray Colbert said.

"The solution is not to get unqualified, well-meaning volunteers to look into it."

He said the council should also supply asbestos awareness stickers to the clubs.

Clubs Queensland chief executive Penny Wilson said the smaller clubs in particular should not be forced to undertake such a responsibility.

"A reasonable person would think the council would give them some assistance to help them meet the requirements," she said.

Labor Leader Shayne Sutton agreed, saying it was a "cop out" to expect tenants to do the work.

"The bottom line is Brisbane City Council is the landlord in this situation and they should be working to fix the problem," she said.