Edith Cowan University’s $853 million Perth CBD campus evacuated three days into first semester

Students at Edith Cowan University’s new city campus were evacuated Wednesday afternoon after reports of strong fumes inside the building, just three days after it opened for lectures.

Edith Cowan University Campus Evacuated Due to Fumes

Hundreds of students were seen leaving the nine-storey building before 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

Several students told ABC they were informed of a gas leak triggered by ongoing construction work. One student reported concerns that fumes had entered the air vents and spread throughout the building.

Fumes were noticeable in the vicinity of the Yagan Square precinct.

Students, teachers, security guards, and police were seen milling around outside the campus. Many reported smelling paint fumes before the emergency alarm sounded, while others initially believed it was a drill.

Campus officials sent a text message to students stating the city campus would remain closed for the day. The message instructed students to retrieve essential items with support staff in Yagan Square.

The university later released a statement confirming an emergency alarm was triggered on level four. According to the statement, the campus was evacuated as a precaution, and no injuries were reported.

Student Anand Christie said he was told by security about a potential gas leak and the precautionary evacuation on his second day of classes. He expressed mixed feelings about missing class, noting the cost of education as an international student.

Fiona Mushoma, a 21-year-old commerce student, said she was in an economics lecture on level six when the alarm went off. She described the evacuation process as calm and orderly, though initially “a little bit” scary.

The campus opening has experienced other issues, including the discovery of asbestos in fire doors and a reported incident of students being trapped in a lift. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Braden Hill confirmed in an email that WAAPA students were briefly stuck in a lift Monday evening and were safely assisted by emergency services.

Asbestos was discovered in 14 of the building’s fire doors late last year, believed to have been imported from overseas. The building received an exemption from work health and safety regulations to allow it to open, and the builder, Multiplex, assured the university the asbestos posed no risk.