ENVIRONMENT Protection Authority investigations into the distribution of potentially asbestos-contaminated material on sites and farms are continuing in South Australia’s Naracoorte area.

EPA South Australia has told Sheep Central that on 22 April it received notification that potentially asbestos contaminated material was received and distributed on a Naracoorte property.

“The EPA is investigating the notification and has issued environmental protection orders to the business,” a spokesperson said.

“The EPA is continuing to work with all parties concerned.

“Investigations are continuing to identify sites that have received reprocessed material from the business.”

EPA South Australia today said an audit was being undertaken of all reprocessed material.

“As this remains an active investigation the EPA is unable to provide further comment at this stage.”

Sheep Central was directed to the EPA website where it has listed environmental protection orders issued to Bull Bros Earthmoving of Naracoorte. These include EPO 40165 with ‘complied’ status issued on 10 May 2024 and updated on 14 June for “Failing to take all reasonable and practicable measures to ensure asbestos is not received at the site and failing to take all reasonable and practicable measures to ensure asbestos is not present in the reprocessed material prior to it leaving the site.”

Environment protection order 40169 issued on 2 July and updated on 15 November, with the status ‘failed to comply’, states that it relates to Bull Bros selling or supplying approximately 88 tonnes of product between 1 May 2023 and 1 May 2024 to a property at Hynam “that may have contained asbestos.”

Asbestos has the potential to cause environmental harm including actual or protection harm to the health and safety of human beings that is not trivial; this order is directed at preventing or minimising environmental harm of that kind, the EPA said in the order.

The EPA said actual or potential environmental harm could have been prevented or minimised by adequate supervision of waste receipt at the site to ensure asbestos was not intermingled with other waste, checking waste prior to crushing to ensure the absence of asbestos and testing of the product prior to sale to ensure the absence of asbestos.

The EPO 40169 related to reprocessed construction and demolition waste spread stockpiled at or near stock holding yards and a shearing shed at the property at 256 Toms Road, Hynam.

EPA South Australia told Sheep Central EPO 40169 has a number of requirements and the majority of these have been met, so Bull Bros is considered to be compliant with most of the EPO.

“However, some delays have occurred that were outside of their control. Negotiations are continuing between the company and affected party, and the affected material has been removed,” the EPA advised.

Company is complying with all EPA orders

Bull Bros principal David Bull today said the company was complying with all environment protection orders issued by the EPA.

He said the company had stopped receiving all recycled material from demolitions from external clients.

In relation to the Hynam site, Mr Bull said the company was complying with EPA requirements and orders.

The EPA spokesperson said the EPA was working with all parties to satisfy the requirements of the order to remediate the Hynam site.

Public advisories on asbestos risk?

The EPA has not confirmed if any asbestos had been found in any material analysed as part of the investigation. When asked whether it issued any public advisories about potential asbestos contamination risk in the community, the EPA spokesperson said six other sites were inspected with a nil result being recorded for the presence of asbestos.

“The company has, and continues to, cooperate with the EPA.

“As such, a public notification was not required,” the spokesperson said. “The investigation remains ongoing.”

The spokesperson said the situation was not regarded as a major pollution event.

However, an affected farmer who did not want to be identified and had some reprocessed material delivered and spread three years ago said independent testing confirmed it contained asbestos. Site remediation was completed a few weeks ago.

“I was tipped off by another landowner who had concerns it was on his place (in his sheep yards).”

The farmer said the EPA should have issued public advisories on the potential for asbestos contamination.

“Of course there should have been – 100 percent.”

When asked what the EPA had advised farmers who have taken delivery of material from the company, the EPA spokesperson said all reports are subject to an investigation to determine the accuracy of the circumstances.

“If anyone has concerns regarding asbestos being present in supplied fill or in a current stockpile they should cover the potentially affected material, restrict any activities to be conducted in that area and contact the EPA via ‘Your EPA’ on the EPA website.”

“Any concerned resident has the right to have their own testing conducted,” the spokesperson said.

“All reports of pollution are of concern to the EPA and followed up to determine the level and extent of pollution to determine the next steps that are taken,” the spokesperson said.

“In relation to this matter, the EPA has taken all steps within the governance of the EP Act to ensure that all asbestos contaminated material is removed, and the site remediated.”

• To register any concerns about asbestos contaminated reprocessed material please contact ‘Your EPA’ on the EPA website.
• Further information on environment protection orders is available on the EPA website.