Marion Bay and Berry Bay waste material clean up

Yorke Peninsula Council has isolated two sites located on road reserves within the Council area after discovering non-friable asbestos containing material at Marion Bay.

The two sites (Marion Bay and Berry Bay – South) are to be secured with temporary fencing to prevent unauthorised access, and warning signage installed, as Council works with experts to remove the hazardous material and completely rehabilitate the land.

Non-friable asbestos products are made from a bonding compound, such as cement, mixed with a small amount of asbestos, typically less than 15 per cent. The products cannot be easily turned into dust, and do not normally release asbestos fibres into the air. In this condition, it poses a very low safety risk.

Notwithstanding this, Council has arranged for the material to be removed as quickly as possible and has taken the extra step of utilising a dust suppression agent at both sites.

“We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness,” CEO Andrew Cameron said.

The Marion Bay site has been used as an undocumented and unapproved community dumping area for decades, a practice dating back before the amalgamation of what is now Yorke Peninsula Council.

Unauthorised attempts to tidy the area recently brought this issue to the attention of Council’s senior management, who immediately launched an investigation into the matter. The investigation, being conducted by an independent investigator, remains ongoing.

“It is deeply regrettable Council staff were not made aware of the unsanctioned dumping site sooner, but we have acted urgently to ensure the problem is resolved,” Mr Cameron said.

“We do not tolerate any form of illegal dumping regardless of any unwritten historical arrangements and will take every step possible to fix this problem and ensure it is never repeated.”

Illegal dumping is a serious and widespread community issue, both within the Council area and throughout the State. Serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment, may be imposed against any person found to be unlawfully depositing waste onto public or private land or into waters.

People seeking further information are encouraged to visit the Council website www.yorke.sa.gov.au.