Bilgola Plateau: massive asbestos contamination probe begins
A major health scare on the northern beaches due to a massive asbestos contamination incident is being investigated while the clean up bill could hit $500,000.
Manly
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The $500,000 clean up of a dangerous asbestos contamination incident was still underway on Wednesday afternoon — two days after a street on the northern beaches went into lockdown.
Now authorities are investigating contract cleaners for allegedly spreading the potentially deadly chemical fibres over homes at Bilgola Plateau.
At least three homes in Mariposa Rd had to be evacuated and NSW Fire and Rescue declared an asbestos “hot zone” late on Monday afternoon after two men pressure cleaning an asbestos roof caused the contamination scare.
Nine parked cars were also roped off.
The cleaners allegedly blasted the asbestos off the roof with high-pressure hoses, but the fibres drifted like “snow” across neighbouring properties.
Linda Amoah told Channel 9 News there was asbestos blanketing her house.
“The dogs were covered in asbestos, the whole backyard was covered in asbestos,” Ms Amoah said.
NSW Fire and Rescue started the clean-up and specialised asbestos remediation company has been called in. It is understood the clean up could taker weeks and the bill could hit $500,000.
Special blocks had to be placed on stormwater drains to stop the asbestos spreading further and air-monitoring equipment was installed in the street.
SafeWork NSW confirmed it was currently investigating a “workplace incident at Bilgola Plateau”.
In a statement it said that a cleaning contractor had pressure-cleaned an asbestos roof causing asbestos contamination across a number of properties.
“Asbestos on affected properties is currently being contained by Licenced Asbestos Assessors until further remediation and clean up can occur.
“SafeWork’s investigation is ongoing.”
Northern Beaches Council said on Wednesday that NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Police, NSW Emergency Engineering and council officers had been involved since the incident occurred.
It said community health and safety were the top priority.
“Clean-up works are continuing under the direction and supervision of SafeWork NSW,” a council spokesman said.
“Air quality testing of the street has found there is no air safety concerns within Mariposa Rd."
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