Asbestos Removal in Newcastle

Who may remove asbestos depends on two things: whether it is friable, and how much there is. The City of Newcastle says any amount of friable asbestos, or more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos, must be removed by someone licensed by SafeWork NSW. Under that area, a homeowner may remove bonded asbestos themselves, though the NSW Government strongly recommends a licensed removalist instead.

What asbestos removal in Newcastle actually involves

Friable asbestos crumbles to powder under hand pressure; bonded asbestos is set in cement or another hard binder, and can become friable when it is damaged or old. That is why fire-damaged fibro is treated as friable. The roof and sheet page covers the bonded jobs and the friable page the licensed-only work.

Before a licensed job starts

The removalist notifies SafeWork NSW at least five calendar days ahead. The licence holder then gives notice of the work and its start date to you, the occupier, the owner and the immediate neighbours, and puts up asbestos warning signs. Separately, before any asbestos removal, licensed or not, the City of Newcastle recommends telling your neighbours the start date and how long it will take, so they can keep the washing off the line and close doors and windows while it is underway.

A person in white coveralls, hood, respirator and green gloves kneeling and wiping a hand tool with a wet wipe over a white bucket, a sealed bag beside them on plastic sheeting — asbestos removal, Newcastle. Illustrative example.

After the work

A clearance inspection and certificate come before anyone moves back in, from a licensed asbestos assessor for Class A work or a competent person for Class B work. Keep the certificate with the disposal receipt. The disposal page covers the tip.

The City of Newcastle takes reports of homeowners removing asbestos without proper precautions, suspected asbestos-contaminated land and asbestos dumped in public areas; unsafe handling by paid workers or contractors goes to SafeWork NSW instead. Homes here built before 1990 are the ones the council says may contain it.

Asbestos removal costs and rules check