Asbestos Management Case Studies from the Front Line Amy Lovesey

Environmental Health Conference 31 October 2014, Mudgee

1 Councils across NSW

• 152 councils in NSW. • 114 draft or final asbestos policies. • 130 councils at our Asbestos Management Training Workshops. • Funded by HACA.

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Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities (HACA) • Department of Planning and • Ministry of Health Environment • Office of Local Government • Department of Trade and • Local Government NSW Investment Regional • WorkCover NSW Infrastructure and Services • Workers Compensation • Environment Protection Dust Diseases Board Authority • Ministry for Police and Emergency Services

3 Around NSW…. • From Mudgee to Ballina, Holroyd, Walgett, …. • How are councils meeting their legal obligations and community expectations….

4 Mid -Western Regional Council

• Asbestos Plan made available to contractors (11 pages). • 35 workers trained in non-friable asbestos identification and removal. • Training - removing imitation ‘asbestos’. • Staff kits: PPE & forms to document finds & sign off on SWMS. • Duty planner gives information to residents. • Updating register & receival documents at waste facility more user friendly. 5 Council • Trailer for response to non- friable asbestos incidents. • Set up for immediate deployment for illegal dumping or routine replacement of asbestos water mains. • Materials & construction cost $20,000 fit out c. $8000. 6 Holroyd City Council • Western , “fibro belt” of Sydney, whole streets of houses built from fibro cement in 1950s & 1960s. • In June 2013, trialled a free asbestos collection for small amounts of loose non-friable asbestos at residential properties in the LGA. • To-date removed 11.72 tonnes of asbestos waste from 180 properties. • Three asbestos information nights for residents.

7 Case studies online

8 Council

• October 2013, the local supermarket containing asbestos building materials burnt to the ground. • Walgett Shire Council played an important role in keeping the public safe & informed until the building has been secured, made safe, demolished and decontaminated.

9 Queanbeyan City Council

• Responding to residents’ concerns regarding loose- fill asbestos insulation. • Raw asbestos, loose. • 1968 - 1979 – insulation sold to over 1000 homes in the ACT mainly by ‘Mr Fluffy’ – also in NSW.

10 Identifying loose-fill asbestos • 1989 - NSW Government offered residents a voluntary asbestos identification service. • Queanbeyan City Council conducted further identification from 1996. • Approx. 360 properties were inspected. • 1989 - 2009, Council positively identified 11 homes or buildings in the LGA as containing loose asbestos. • Also identified in one building in and one building in .

11 Areas in NSW potentially affected

Central West: South West/ : • Orange City Council • City Council • Council Sydney: • Greater Shire Council • Ku-ring-gai Council • Shire Council • • City Council

South East: • Council • Bombala Council • Council • Cooma- Shire Council • Council • Goulburn Mulwaree Council • Greater Council • Palerang Council • Queanbeyan City Council • Shire Council • Upper Council • Yass Valley Shire Council • Council

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Loose-fill asbestos in Queanbeyan • Council maintains a confidential register of properties that contain loose-fill asbestos insulation. • 30 June 2014 - Council sent a letter & fact sheet to 11 properties to remind them of the risks & recommend risk controls. • Recently, two more properties identified. • Queanbeyan City Council estimates around 60 homes in the LGA could be affected.

13 Assistance to residents from Council • Organised a forum for affected residents to provide advice and hear their concerns. • Lobbying NSW and Federal Government to seek assistance for residents. • Suggested options for managing this issue to the Heads of Asbestos Coordination Authorities Working Group. 14 Awareness raising • Information on websites. • Explain residents should not disturb or sample the material. • Samples must not be brought to council.

15 Loose-fill asbestos investigation • Announced by NSW Government 15 August 2014. • Independent specialist will investigate the number of NSW properties affected. • Free testing service to eligible residents in pre-1980 homes in listed LGAs offered for a 12 month period. Licensed asbestos assessors will take samples for analysis in accredited laboratories. • Free property assessments to advise on risk controls for homes positively identified. 16 Joint Select Committee on Loose Fill Asbestos • Established 18 September 2014 to inquire into and report on: o (a) the number and location of homes affected; o (b) the actions taken by governments in other Jurisdictions; o (c) the role of state and local governments to advise and assist home owners and occupiers to reduce the risks posed by loose fill asbestos insulation; o (d) the requirements for property owners to notify potential buyers, renters, tradespeople and emergency service officers; and o (e) any other related matter. • LGNSW will prepare a submission based on feedback from councils. 17 Asbestos Awareness Month 2014 November

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Further information Amy Lovesey Project Manager – Asbestos Policy [email protected] Ph: (02) 9242 4128

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