Killarney Heights: Clean-up ordered after asbestos fragments found near playground
Asbestos found near a kid’s playground at a suburban Sydney shopping centre has led to it being taped off ahead of a thorough clean-up.
Manly
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An emergency clean-up order has been issued after asbestos was found near a children’s playground on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Northern Beaches Council has ordered the removal of the material from the Killarney Heights shopping precinct, after reports of the unsafe removal of asbestos by a private contractor during work to repair a shop’s awning.
The contractor was hired to move the material by a business in Tremore Pl.
A member of the public alerted the council last Friday over concerns asbestos material had not been properly removed.
The council confirmed in a statement released on Thursday afternoon, that its inspectors had found “two to three small bonded asbestos fragments” on a small area of turf and footpath.
The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) advises that bonded/non-friable asbestos is lower risk than ‘friable’ asbestos, the council stated.
The business was ordered, on Friday, to cordon off the area, including a small playground near the shops.
“Council staff again visited the site on Monday, April 8, and found that the site hadn’t been cleaned to the required level,” according to its statement.
“An Emergency Order was issued on Tuesday April 9, which required the contractor to secure the site to ensure no unauthorised persons may enter or come into contact with any unsealed or broken asbestos containing material until an adequate clearance has been provided by a suitably qualified Occupational Hygienist that no loose asbestos containing material remains.”
Council officers carried out more inspections on Tuesday and Wednesday and “found no visible signs of asbestos fragments remaining”.
But a further inspection on Thursday found new building materials scattered on the site.
“To ensure public safety, council is closing off the play area and engaging its own external contractor to clean-up the site.”
The EPA has been notified and the council is liaising with Safe Work NSW about the contractor’s conduct.
The council will ensure the tape is only removed when the impacted area is safe to access again.
If you suspect asbestos waste is being dumped on private or public land, please call the council 24/7 on 1300 434 434.
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