Northern Beaches Council has issued an emergency order to a contractor engaged by a business at 35 Tremore Place, Killarney Heights, following reports of unsafe removal of asbestos. 

Council was alerted to the issue on Friday 5 April by a member of the public and immediately attended the site to investigate. 

Two to three small bonded asbestos fragments were found on a small area of green turf and footpath, attributed to works undertaken to fix a shop awning. The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) advises that bonded/non-friable asbestos is lower risk than ‘friable’ asbestos. 

The business was ordered to cordon off impacted areas, including a small play area.

Council staff again visited the site on Monday 8 April and found that the site hadn’t been cleaned to the required level. 

An Emergency Order was issued on Tuesday 9 April, which requires the contractor to secure the site to ensure no unauthorised persons may enter or come into contact with any unsealed or broken asbestos containing material until an adequate clearance has been provided by a suitably qualified Occupational Hygienist that no loose asbestos containing material remains. 

Further inspections carried out by Council staff on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 and found no visible signs of asbestos fragments remaining.  A further inspection on Thursday 11 April found new building materials scattered on the site. To ensure public safety, Council is closing off the play area and engaging its own external contractor to clean-up the site. 

The EPA has been notified and Council is liaising with Safe Work NSW about the conduct of the contractor. 

Council will ensure the tape is only removed when the impacted area is safe to access again.

If you suspect asbestos waste is being dumped on private or public land, please call Council 24/7 on 1300 434 434.