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Unknown people, labelled as “careless environmental vandals” have dumped a load of asbestos sheeting down a roadside gully in North Tumbulgum, in the Tweed region of Northern NSW.
According to Fire and Rescue NSW Kingscliff, both firefighters and hazmat workers spend more than seven hours cleaning up the material after it was discovered on Friday, in an operation described as “gruelling”.
The local fire station is urging anyone who might know more about the dumping, or the origins of the material, to contact the Environmental Protection Agency.
“On arrival crews found what looked to be a tipper truck equivalent load of asbestos sheeting dumped down a drainage gully,” the statement from the fire station read.
“Once positively identified crews carried out a risk assessment of the scene and agreed it was too late to get to work to render the area safe on the Friday as the daylight was running out.
“Due to the very steep incline, crews started with digging a safe trail for access to the bottom of the gully to access the sheeting. Disposable suits, gloves, masks and safety glasses were all donned and crews got to work wetting down and bagging the asbestos rendering it safe.
“In total, crews spent over seven hours at this site over the two days.
“It was challenging and gruelling work by all involved, however, everyone got in and got the job done safely and effectively.”
The fire station has also issued a warning over the potential risks exposure poses to human health, as well as the “massive effects on the environment in which it is dumped”.
Illegal dumping of asbestos is not new in the area. Last year, Tweed Shire Council issued a warning that perpetrators would be named and shamed, which is yet to happen. The EPA warned that when the perpetrators are caught, penalties can be as high as $5 million, with prison sentences of up to seven years also at their disposal.