Asbestos awareness is for everyone

What do Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park, Beaton Park tennis courts and the Old Wollongong Courthouse all have in common? They’re all spaces where Wollongong City Council is, or has recently, managed the presence of asbestos.

Asbestos is a challenge for all layers of Government, the construction industry, and our community alike. Together we need to manage the legacy of a building material that remains a presence in buildings and in construction waste.

Setting the scene

“It’s essential everyone in our community is aware of the prevalence of asbestos and the significant health risks associated with the material,’’ Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said.

“Since 2003 there has been an Australia-wide ban on the manufacture and use of all types of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, and we all have a responsibility to understand what asbestos is, where it can be found, and the risks associated with it.

“According to the Australian Government’s Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency some 12.8 million tonnes of asbestos-containing material was used in Australia between 1920 and 2003. It’s estimated that 90 per cent of that was in cement building materials and cement water pipes.

“At Council, our staff are trained, particularly those on worksites, in asbestos identification and handling. We have processes in place to manage sites where we know there is asbestos present, as well as sites where “unexpected finds” crop up. All our processes prioritise the safety of our staff and community.

“There is no dollar value to be put on the safety of our community, but “unexpected finds” impact the quantity and variety of works we’re able to deliver one financial year to the next.’’

Impact on Council works

In 2023, a number of “unexpected finds” provided additional challenges on Council worksites. While it wasn’t unexpected that the Thirroul seawall project would uncover the intake pipe for Thirroul pool, what was unexpected is that it was an asbestos pipe, which was safely replaced. When working on the pipe alignment for the Bellambi Gully Stormwater improvements, we came across a small amount of builders’ waste - that included asbestos containing materials – which had been used as fill sometime in the past. And the work at Beaton Park tennis courts were delayed after asbestos-containing material was found in an area underneath the existing courts as they were demolished.

“Beaton Park is a really good example of how an unexpected find can impact a project,’’ Mr Doyle said.

“When the courts were originally built there wouldn’t have been the same awareness or safety measures in place for asbestos management as there are today. So, while then they might have used building rubble which included asbestos-containing material to manage the soil conditions and build up a base, we wouldn’t do that now.

“The difficulty for us now, however, is that while there had been extensive planning for this project, including a Review of Environmental Factors, none of our early investigations had pointed to the fact there was asbestos-containing material underneath a section of the old courts until demolition works started.

“What it ultimately meant was a temporary pause to works while a remediation plan was put into action, which included the removal and safe disposal of the material. This not only added a financial impact to the project, but also a potential delay to the completion of the work. While the final dollar value of this unexpected find will be confirmed once the project’s finished, it’s estimated to be around half a million dollars. This has an impact upon Council’s budget when we’re always looking to stretch it as far and wide as we can for our community’s benefit, and at a time when costs are on the rise.’’

Impact on Council’s budget

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said the budgetary impact of unexpected finds on worksites should not be underestimated.

“Right now, my fellow Councillors and I have been working extensively on the planning documents for the next 12 months and looking closely at the projects and works that Council is looking to deliver,’’ he said.

“Like many household budgets, we’re feeling stretched in terms of what our dollar will deliver when we consider the costs of materials and services. There are some projects, like the re-roofing of the Old Wollongong Courthouse and Bulli RFS building or the construction of the Cringila Hills Mountain Bike Park, where we know we will be removing asbestos-containing materials, and we also know there will be a larger budgetary impact for these works.

“However, when Council has to unexpectedly reprioritise our funds to remove red clay material imported to the Helensburgh Mountain Bike Track by the Helensburgh Off Road Cycle Club to construct the majority of the site’s bike tracks, it’s very tricky. It’s a financial and health and safety balancing act and it will be an ongoing challenge for our city for many years to come.’’

Read: Media Release: Soil removal works to start at Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park

Importance of asbestos awareness for our community

Cr Bradbery said while Council’s priority was always community safety and the health and wellbeing of staff, it was essential residents understood what asbestos was and that we’re were proactive in managing the material and their own wellbeing.

“Asbestos education and awareness is not about being alarmist and looking to strike fear into the hearts of people,’’ he said.

“It’s more about everyone understanding what asbestos is, the two main types of asbestos and when it can be a problem.”

Cr Bradbery said people should be aware:

• Asbestos is known to cause cancer, and asbestos-related diseases contribute to about 4,000 deaths in Australia each year (source: Asbestos safety for householders and home renovators – Be Safe (asbestossafety-homeowners.com.au)
• If you’re planning to do work in any home built before 1990, it’s possible that there will be asbestos materials present and you may need to seek advice.
• Asbestos awareness isn’t just about fibro sheeting. It can also be found in a range of places including the backing for wall tiles and splashbacks, carpet underlay, textured paint, in roof cavities and around hot water pipes.
• The Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, or ISJO, has an asbestos collection program to make it easier for residents to dispose of the material. ISJO is a joint organisation that provides an opportunity for collaboration and advocacy from Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven councils. The Free Asbestos Collection program has grant funding from the EPA and was developed by councils to offer a way to dispose of small quantities of asbestos.

See: Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (or ISJO) website

“When it comes to the long-term management of this material, education is key,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“We know asbestos-containing materials are a health risk and all levels of Government, the construction industry and community all need to work together to keep our community safe.’’

Want to know more?

Read the latest on the EPA investigation into asbestos in mulch.

Read up on how you can manage problem waste, like asbestos, in the Wollongong Local Government Area

Learn more about the Free Asbestos Collection program offered through ISJO or the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation.

Read up on Asbestos management, and where homeowners may come across asbestos in their property on the Australian Government Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency.