River Murray flood: secrecy row after asbestos found in Defence water barriers

The deadly fragments were found while constructing key River Murray flood barriers, with the public never warned about potential risks.

Deadly asbestos was found while constructing key Riverland flood barriers – but the public was never warned about any potential risks.

Fragments of cement sheeting were found in two DefenCell barriers on a bridge on Lake Bonney’s northern shore, 10km north-west of Barmera late last year.

The two pieces, which contained the cancerous dust, were discovered as emergency services personnel filled the military-style flood barriers on November 28 with soil Berri Barmera Council supplied.

But authorities kept the details secret as the state’s safety watchdog, SafeWork SA, was called in.

SES helped construct the barriers. Picture: State Government

Council chiefs believe the asbestos was illegally dumped in the “borrow pit” at Loveday, almost 10km south.

Despite no public communications, it is understood high-level meetings and briefings were then conducted across government about its management, risks involved and if there were cost implications on clean up.

Adrian Pederick was critical of the secrecy. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Government officials defended the secrecy and downplayed any public risks.

Opposition Emergency Services spokesman, Adrian Pederick, criticised the secrecy.

“It is unacceptable that asbestos was found and not a single public warning was issued about this discovery,” he said.

“The public and our volunteers deserve better during these difficult times.

“Our volunteers constantly put themselves in harm’s way to help the community and all precautions must be taken to ensure they are protected.

“We now need assurances from the Labor Government that all sandbags are free of asbestos contamination and that the site at Lake Bonney is of no risk to the public.”

Government officials downplayed any public risks. Picture: SA Government

An SES spokesman said the soil was untouched “to minimise further disturbance, given the small number of fragments found” while the barriers were also watered down.

“There was no risk to the public in relation to the two small fragments of cement sheeting encountered as the pieces were non-fibrous (and) the area was also closed to the public,” he said.

The council is working with the Environment Protection Authority to manage the disposal of the contaminated soil.

Berri Barmera Council manager of infrastructure and operations, David Pluckhahn, said it had been “too hard” to establish any details of the illegal dumping.

He referred questions about why there was no public details disclosed to the SES.

A spokesman for Environment Minister Susan Close and Emergency Services Minister Joe Szakacs declined to comment.

Meanwhile, crews have begun to dismantle a 500-metre state government-funded levee constructed along the main street of Mannum.