Barwon Coast closes Breamlea track near Geelong after identifying asbestos-containing fragments
Barwon Coast put up signs, closing footpaths after asbestos was identified near a caravan park. (ABC News: Harrison Tippet)
In short:
Barwon Coast has closed a footpath after identifying fragments containing asbestos, scattered near a caravan park and beach car park.
Experts say the community risk is very low for people who may have previously walked along the paths.
What's next?
EPA Victoria says investigations are underway and it's consulting with the local council and Barwon Coast.
Victorian authorities are investigating the discovery of asbestos scattered throughout parts of a coastal town near the Great Ocean Road.
A section of public land has been closed off in Breamlea, following the discovery of asbestos cement sheeting fragments on public land near Bancoora Beach.
Breamlea is home to about 150 people on Geelong's southern coastal tip, neighbouring Torquay.
The asbestos fragments are centralised around a walking track connecting the Breamlea Caravan Park and nearby Bancoora Beach car park, with fragments also found in the car park and near the surf life saving club.
Fragments containing asbestos were found near a caravan park and beach in Breamlea. (ABC News: Harrison Tippet)
Some locals believe the area was once used as a tip site.
The ABC sent questions to the Environment Protection Authority and land managers Barwon Coast regarding the asbestos on Thursday morning.
By Thursday evening, Barwon Coast had inspected the site, collected a sample for testing, confirmed it was asbestos and closed off the walking track.
"Barwon Coast was notified this morning of possible asbestos fragments on and around the path running between Breamlea Caravan Park and the Bancoora Beach car park," Barwon Coast CEO Gareth Smith said.
"We have not previously received community reports of asbestos on this path, nor observed any during recent fencing and pathway improvement works carried out three and six months ago, or during the revegetation works undertaken two years ago.
"Barwon Coast staff immediately attended and inspected the site, used appropriate protective equipment to collect a sample for testing, which this afternoon confirmed the fragment as containing asbestos.
"We have put safety measures in place, including a temporary closure of the path."
The fragments containing asbestos were found nearby a walking track connecting the Breamlea Caravan Park and Bancoora Beach car park. (ABC News: Harrison Tippet)
EPA Victoria on Thursday confirmed it had previously received a report from a member of the public regarding asbestos-containing material found on public land near the beach.
"Investigations are under way and EPA officers have made enquiries with the City of Greater Geelong council and Barwon Coast, which manages Crown land in the area," the statement noted.
The EPA did not say when it was first notified of the asbestos.
Australia's Asbestos and Dust Diseases Research Institute research director Anthony Linton said there was little to fear for people who had used the area.
"Asbestos naturally makes many Australians feel very fearful because we have a long and deadly legacy of asbestos use in this country," Dr Linton said.
"Any risk to any member of the community is actually going to be very low in this case for people who may have actually walked these paths in the past.
"But certainly, we know that asbestos continues to kill about 4,500 Australians per year, so this just reinforces the message that we must remove asbestos from the built environment and dispose of it safely."
It comes nearly two years after traces of asbestos were found in soil near at least five playgrounds across Melbourne.
Last month, several coloured educational sand products were also recalled after traces of asbestos were detected within the product.