Fast Five – Being Asbestos Aware

Right now, there is a lot of focus on asbestos and the challenges it presents in its management. At Wollongong City Council, we’re well aware of the legacy of the use of asbestos materials and have procedures in place should it be found in our buildings, parks or on worksites.

Our number one priority is the safety of our community and staff. It’s essential everyone is asbestos aware, and understands the risks associated with the building material and how it should be managed.

We’re sharing this short snapshot that’s a useful starting point for building asbestos awareness in our city.

What is asbestos and why is it a problem?

According to the NSW EPA, asbestos was used to create cheap, lightweight and fire-resistant materials for building, manufacturing and utilities. It’s commonly found in NSW homes and buildings that were built or renovated before 1990.

However, the manufacture and use of asbestos has been banned in Australia since 2003 as the material is known to cause cancer. 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).

It’s important our community understands the risks associated with asbestos and where they’re able to learn more about this material.

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

What is Council doing?

The safety of our community and staff is the highest priority for Council and we take our role and responsibilities seriously when it comes to asbestos awareness and management.

Council has an endorsed Asbestos Policy that provides guidance and direction for our operations and services for the safe management of asbestos. It can be a challenge when it comes to the maintenance of Council owned or managed buildings, or when it is unexpectedly found in public spaces or during scheduled works.

Many of our staff are trained in asbestos identification and handling and we have measures in place to manage any asbestos we find in public spaces and on Council land. This management includes the preparation and transportation of asbestos containing materials to licenced facilities outside our city who handle the materials. Asbestos containing materials are not accepted at Wollongong Waste and Resource Recovery Park (Whytes Gully).

How to dispose of asbestos

If your house was built before 1990, there’s a good chance it may contain asbestos. While many people are familiar with fibro asbestos, other common places the material can be found includes roofs and eaves, vinyl tiling, drains and oven or heating flues.

There are strict rules around the handling and disposing of asbestos. It can’t be taken to the Wollongong Waste and Resource Recovery Park (also known as Whyte’s Gully) and it’s illegal to put asbestos in a household garbage bin or dump it.

The NSW EPA website lists facilities across the state that accept asbestos waste, and provides advice on where asbestos may be found in the home and what to do if you do.

See the NSW EPA website for more information.

Alternatively, The Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation, or ISJO, has a free asbestos collection program to make it easier for City of Wollongong residents to dispose of small household quantities of the  material.

See: Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (or ISJO) website

Managing asbestos in Wollongong city

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.

Read our Media Release: Asbestos awareness is for everyone

Mulch on Council land

Recently, Wollongong City Council shared a statement about the use of mulch on Council-owned or managed land which includes our parks and playgrounds following the ongoing coverage of the NSW EPA’s mulch investigation.

We self-generate the majority of the mulch that is used across our parks and open spaces. This means we know where it’s sourced, how it’s processed and ensures it’s used in accordance with the NSW EPA Mulch Order 2016.

We do, from time-to-time, have projects that require us to purchase additional mulch from an external supplier. We haven’t purchased any materials from the supplier associated with the EPA’s current mulch investigation.

Read the full statement.

There has been significant attention on an investigation by the NSW EPA into the discovery of asbestos in mulch at multiple locations including Rozelle Gardens and a number of Sydney schools. The investigation is supported by the NSW Asbestos Taskforce.

The EPA are providing regular updates on the investigation, and these are available through their website.