Asbestos

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is the name given to a group of fibrous silicate minerals that can potentially cause lung disease if inhaled. 

Asbestos can be found in a number of products used in the Australian Building Industry between the 1940s and late 1980s and in the brakes, clutches and gaskets of many cars. 

The most commonly found household building materials that contain asbestos are asbestos-cement products (also called 'fibro' or 'AC Sheeting').

The presence of asbestos in home building materials generally does not pose a risk to health unless the material is broken, deteriorating or disturbed in such a way that dust containing asbestos fibres is produced. 

For more information about asbestos and the law visit EPA website.

Asbestos removal

Special precautions should be taken by anyone needing to disturb any asbestos. For removal of friable asbestos or 10 square metres or more, you must use a licenced asbestos removalist.

For information on how to remove small amounts of asbestos safely from your home, please visit the Victorian Government website.

Further information

Please contact Council to make a report about a public health concern.