Central Coast Council is conducting daily beach inspections at Terrigal and Wamberal to identify and safely remove building waste – some of these waste items have been identified as asbestos containing materials.

Following recent storm events and increased swells, there have been increased sightings at the intertidal line of the waste material washed in from offshore.

Though materials identified so far have been labelled by experts as low-risk, trained Council staff will continue to undertake daily physical inspections on an ongoing basis.

Council is working constructively with the Department of Industry & Lands, given Council and that Department manage different parts of the beaches.

While the source of the material is being investigated, additional precautionary measures, including external air-quality assessments conducted by an occupational hygienist, will shortly be undertaken. In the meantime, Terrigal and Wamberal beaches remain open to the public.

Although the material is not considered to be dangerous, Council reminds the community not to handle or remove any building waste from the beach and to supervise children playing on the beach at all times.

Suspected asbestos containing materials should be referred to the EPA Pollution line on 131 555 or Central Coast Council on 4325 8222 or 4350 5555.