Bayside Council ordered to clean up Dendy Street beach and remove asbestos
ONE of Melbourne’s most popular beaches remains closed and the local council has been slapped with a “clean up notice” to remove asbestos.
Inner South
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The Environmental Protection Agency has slapped Bayside Council with a “clean up notice” to remove asbestos found at Brighton’s popular Dendy Street Beach.
In April, the council closed the foreshore between Wellington St and Keith Court after the “discovery of soil contamination including asbestos-containing materials”.
The EPA was called in to investigate after the asbestos, as well as coal tar, was found during an archaeological excavation in January.
DENDY BEACH CLOSED AFTER TOXINS FOUND IN SOIL
Clean up notices aim to prevent further contamination by the removal of waste, undertaking clean-up activities and managing pollution.
The penalty for noncompliance could be a fine of up to $380,568.
Bayside Mayor Laurence Evans said in a statement the council was working with the EPA to “remediate the site”.
“Council has engaged specialist environmental consultants to conduct further testing and provide advice on the management of the site,” Cr Evans said.
He said the site was closed off to the public and didn’t present a safety hazard.
“We are working with the EPA and will meet all the actions required under the clean up notice.
“We will continue to keep the community updated on this issue.”
The clean-up notice also requires the council to undertake further site assessments to determine what action is required and provide a detailed report to the EPA.
Former public health worker Alison Joseph, who tipped off the EPA about the Dendy Beach site in January, said there were other potentially contaminated areas in Bayside, including a current school site.
“I am concerned the council is also contemplating a rain garden at Dendy Beach, without a clear understanding of contaminated soil that may be in there,” she said.
It’s unclear when the Dendy Beach site will reopen.
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