Asbestos

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Penrith City Council (02) 4732 7777 (02) 4732 7958 council@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au 601 High St Penrith NSW 2750 Australia
Asbestos

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral that was used in many building products in Australia from the 1940s to the 1980s. Products containing asbestos were phased out during the 1980s and a national ban on asbestos, its importation and all products containing asbestos came into effect at the end of 2003.

Asbestos fibres can pose a risk to health if they are airborne, as inhalation is the main way that asbestos enters the body.

Asbestos is common in homes and structures built before 1990 and was commonly used in:

  • cement sheeting (fibro)
  • drainage and flue pipes
  • roofing, guttering and flexible building boards 
  • brakes, clutches and gaskets.

For more information, please visit the Asbestos in NSW website.

Managing asbestos  in Penrith

Penrith City Council treats the discovery of asbestos seriously and has strict procedures in place to protect the safety of residents, the community and our staff. A comprehensive Asbestos Management Framework and Asbestos Policy guide Council’s management of asbestos in Penrith.

What is Council's role?

Council provides several different services in relation to advice, regulation, remediation and management of asbestos, within the City. These services include:

  • assessment and regulation of building and demolition work involving asbestos on private land
  • advice and assessments regarding land contamination matters and remediation proposals on private land
  • investigation and regulation of illegally dumped Asbestos Containing Material on public and private land
  • providing general asbestos information and awareness to the public
  • environmental investigations, clean-up and/or remediation of asbestos contamination on public land (where other authorities such as the RMS are not responsible).

All of Council’s asbestos related matters are managed in-line with SafeWork NSW and NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) requirements. This includes the use of appropriately trained staff, licenced asbestos removal contractors and licenced asbestos assessors.

Asbestos at your property

If your home was built before 1990, it’s likely to contain asbestos. If your house is in good condition and you’re not planning on renovating, then you may not need to do anything. Asbestos materials that are in good condition are unlikely to release asbestos fibres if left undisturbed.

If your home is damaged or you are thinking about renovating it is important for homeowners and tradespeople to be aware of how to safely manage asbestos in and around the home. For information on what to look for and how to safely manage asbestos in the home visit Asbestos Awareness website.

In most cases, a licensed asbestos professional is the best person to identify, remove and dispose of asbestos safely. You can find a list of licensed asbestos assessors on the Safe Work NSW website.

Please note that SafeWork NSW is responsible for regulating contractors and workers engaged to remove asbestos materials on private properties, and asbestos in a workplace. If you are concerned about how asbestos is being removed or handled by a business or removalist, SafeWork can be contacted on 13 10 50.

Disposing of household asbestos

Council recommends residents use a licensed asbestos professional to identify, remove and dispose of household asbestos safely. You can find a list of licensed asbestos assessors on the Safe Work NSW website.

Household asbestos can only be disposed of at a landfill that’s licensed to accept it. Contact your nearest landfill site to confirm they accept asbestos and ask about disposal processes. To find nearby facilities that accept household asbestos, visit the EPA website.

Illegal dumping of asbestos

Illegal dumping of asbestos can damage the environment and threaten human health, it can also lead to serious regulatory actions including fines and imprisonment. You can report illegal dumping at any time by visiting ridonline.epa.nsw.gov.au and providing details on the location and type of waste dumped.

Asbestos on public land/Council facilities

A large portion of Council’s asbestos related work in the community is the investigation and remediation of asbestos contamination on public land.

What happens when asbestos is found?

Council’s Divisional Assurance Team follows strict procedures which are in line with Council’s stringent Asbestos Management Framework, and regulations set by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and SafeWork NSW.

These procedures include (but are not limited to) removing asbestos risks, implementing suitable controls, conducting air monitoring, undertaking clearance inspections (in accordance with SafeWork NSW Code of Practice) and conducting detailed environmental investigations where more complex situations arise.

As part of this process, Council engages licensed asbestos contractors, licensed asbestos assessors, consultants, and NSW Hazmat units to ensure that all SafeWork NSW and EPA requirements are met.

How to report suspected asbestos

Council welcomes the assistance of our community to help Council minimise potential asbestos hazards on public land and in community facilities. Please notify Council if you suspect asbestos containing material on public land and in community facilities (not private property). You can notify us in several ways:

  • 4732 7777

Investigations and remediations

The following information relates to specific sites that are subject to current environmental investigations and remediation projects underway in the city. To find out more about the process for investigations and remediation, please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). For further information on current environmental investigations and remediation projects in our City, contact Council’s Divisional Assurance Team on 4732 8647.

Dorothy Radford Reserve is subject to an Asbestos Management Plan and an asbestos inspection schedule. During an inspection on 9/07/2026 fragments of asbestos were found. Once identified, Council engaged an independent SafeWork Licensed Asbestos Contractor to attend the site and carry out removal of the surface fragments. In turn an independent Licensed Asbestos Assessor was engaged to conduct and provide a clearance following the removal works.

Site Conditions and Controls
Following further advice from an independent Licensed Asbestos Assessor a section of Dorothy Radford Reserve, opposite Omeo St will be fenced while further investigations are carried out.

Councils Environmental Investigations and Asbestos Remediation webpage will continue to be updated with current information: Asbestos - Penrith City Council.

More information including Frequently Asked Questions can be found on Council’s website: https://www.penrithcity.nsw.gov.au/images/waste-environment/environment/frequently_asked_questions_asbestos.pdf
Thank you for your understanding as Council continues to manage Dorothy Radford Reserve safely and responsibly.

Should you have any questions, please contact Council's Divisional Assurance Team on 4732 7777.

dorothy radford reserve acm

 

Asbestos awareness resources

The following videos provide general asbestos safety information, including specific information relating to some common Asbestos Containing Materials (ACM).

Further Information