Safe Asbestos Removal and Disposal
View Council's submission to the Australian Government Asbestos Management Review.
NSW Government Asbestos Review - HACA
Australia has the largest number of asbestos related deaths in the world and by 2020 it is expected that more than 40,000 people will have asbestos related diseases in this country.
Most houses built prior to 1990 in Holroyd have asbestos products used in their construction. Australia had the highest per capita use of abestos in the world following the Second World War until the 1980's, and as a result has the highest known rate of mesothelioma in the world.
Council has a stringent Asbestos Policy in place that establishes a framework for the safe removal and disposal of asbestos within the Holroyd area, in line with industry standards and community expectations. However, the current approach at a state and national level to the management of asbestos is haphazard and across a range of jurisdictions and legislation. The risk to the community is not taken seriously enough and not adequately minimised.
Holroyd City Council is campaigning to achieve better asbestos management and increased safety for the community by:
- Returning asbestos demolition control to councils
- Creating a national asbestos authority
- Introducing incentives for the proper removal of asbestos
- Support of foundations that assist the community with the effects of abestos diseases
Our ongoing campaign around asbestos has resulted in several outcomes including:
- Council was named a “national leader” on asbestos issues by the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia.
- The NSW Ombudsman was impressed with our work and in a recent report acknowledged our policies as “excellent”.
- Our call for a national approach gained support from councils across Australia at the National General Assembly of Councils and recently resulted in the announcement of a national review into the management of asbestos by the Commonwealth.
For a number of years Holroyd City Council has been very vocal in bringing attention to this issue particularly around the safe removal and disposal of asbestos. You can learn more about this campaign by reading the following information.
Asbestos Awareness
Visit www.asbestosawareness.com.au to learn where asbestos might be found in the home and how to manage it safely.
Asbestos - What Handymen, Women and Homeowners Need to Know
Support Foundations
Biaggio Signorelli Foundation vision is "To raise funds to create awareness, early detection, treatment and cure Mesothelioma (Asbestos Cancer). The Foundation aims to provide donations or support for research into asbestos related disease as well as assistance to medical practitioners seeking to improve their knowledge and skills in this area of abestos related diseases."
Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia is a not-for-profit organisation working to provide support to people living with asbestos related diseases, family members, carers and friends.
National Support for Lobbying the Federal Government
Holroyd City Council’s position on this issue has gained national support from councils across Australia. The National General Assembly of Councils 2010 unanimously adopted Holroyd’s Motion about introducing uniform regulations across Australia for safe removal and disposal of asbestos.
The 2010 Assembly agreed that unskilled handling and removal of asbestos sheeting presents a real public health danger and called on the Federal Government to establish an independent national authority to develop regulations and manage safe removal and disposal of asbestos though Local Government on an Australia wide basis.
Asbestos is an extremely hazardous material present in more than one million homes. Redevelopment of current building stocks prompted by an expected high population growth will have a major effect on people if left unregulated.
Removal of asbestos material is a skilled operation that requires observance of strict O H & S requirements, and disposal into closely supervised tipping facilities is vital to the preservation of good public health.
Download the asbestos removal motion flyer.
Statewide Support for Lobbying the State Government
The safe removal and disposal of asbestos is an important issue faced by all areas of NSW and one which is interlinked with the management of the development process.
Holroyd City Councillors moved a motion at the 2010 Local Government Association of NSW Annual Conference for the State Government to revisit the minimal requirements of the SEPP in regard to the removal and disposal of asbestos.
The State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development) gives development approval authority to private certifiers without the intervention of the relevant council. This means a private certifier would not be required to follow mandated asbestos management policies, or provide advice or monitor the legal and safety requirements related to asbestos removal and disposal.
The SEPP has less stringent requirements than Holroyd City Council's Asbestos Policy putting community safety across NSW greatly at risk. Bypassing the council development application process will mean:
- owner builders in particular will not be protected by formal requirements for the safe removal of asbestos
- appropriate disposal of asbestos will not be ensured by a Waste Management Plan
- the ability to cover asbestos material will conceal it from future owners
- neighbours will not be adequately notified prior to demolition of asbestos material, heightening the risk of exposure
- neighbours will not be protected by the faster response time of a local council.
Your Support for the Holroyd City Council Campaign
You can help Holroyd City Council in making formal representations to the NSW Premier and Minister for Planning so that the issue of regulating and overseeing asbestos removal is investigated further and addressed by State Government as a matter of urgency.
You can help Holroyd City Council by lobbying the Federal Government for a national authority to develop regulations and manger safe removal and disposal of asbestos throughout Australia.
Take this short survey and tell us who you would rather regulate the removal and disposal of asbestos in your area:
Who would you rather regulate the removal and disposal of asbestos in your area?
Asbestos Community Information Night
Holroyd City Council was acknowledged as a 'national leader' on asbestos issues by the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia at an information evening on August 9, 2010.
More than 60 people attended the information night at the Holroyd Centre with residents, business owners and local builders coming together to learn more about asbestos, asbestos diseases and what steps to take if asbestos is found when renovating.
The three hour information session covered a range of issues including presentations from:
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