Clear, plain-English answers to the questions Cairns property owners ask most. If your question isn’t here, call us and we’ll help you work out the next step.
You can’t tell by looking at it. The only way to confirm asbestos is to have a sample tested by a NATA-accredited laboratory, ideally collected by a competent person. Until it’s tested, treat any suspect material as if it contains asbestos.
No. Photos help a professional understand the size, location and condition of a material, but they can’t confirm asbestos. Only take photos from a safe distance without touching or disturbing the material.
Queensland Government guidance says homes built before 1990 are likely to contain asbestos, and some products were still used until the national ban on 31 December 2003.
Fibro wall and ceiling sheets, eaves, corrugated roofing, fences, wet-area linings behind tiles, vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring, textured ceilings, pipe lagging, old heaters, flues and hot water units, electrical meter boards, garage and shed linings, and window putty.
Asbestos in good condition that isn’t being disturbed generally poses a low risk. The danger comes when it’s broken, cut, drilled, sanded, weathered or damaged. If you have no plans to disturb it, removal may not be urgent, but get professional advice before any renovation or repair work.
Friable asbestos can be crumbled or reduced to powder by hand pressure when dry and releases fibres easily. Non-friable (bonded) asbestos is mixed with a binder such as cement and is more stable while in good condition. Bonded asbestos can become friable if it’s badly weathered, fire-damaged or broken up. In Queensland, low density asbestos fibre board is classified as friable.
Don’t pressure-clean it. Queensland laws prohibit certain tools and methods on asbestos because they release fibres — high-pressure water cleaning, compressed air, grinders, saws and sanders are all restricted. Water-blasting spreads contaminated slurry across your property and your neighbours’. Get professional advice before painting or sealing an asbestos roof.
Stop work, keep people and pets away, and don’t sweep, vacuum, hose or try to clean it up. If it’s indoors, turn off air conditioning and fans. Call 000 if there’s immediate danger, or the Queensland SES on 132 500 for emergency storm help. Then get advice from a licensed asbestos professional. See our Damaged Asbestos page for step-by-step guidance.
In Queensland, a Class A asbestos removal licence is required to remove any amount of friable asbestos. A Class A or Class B licence is required to remove more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos. Since 1 May 2021, low density asbestos fibre board has been classified as friable in Queensland, so it must only be removed by a Class A licensed removalist.
Queensland homeowners can remove up to 10 square metres of bonded asbestos from their own home without a licence, provided it is done safely. To remove more than 10 square metres yourself, Queensland law requires you to hold a certificate from an asbestos removal course approved by Queensland Health. Friable asbestos must only ever be removed by a Class A licensed removalist. Keep in mind that 10 square metres is smaller than it sounds, about the size of a few metres of standard fencing. This website doesn’t provide DIY removal instructions.
Ask for their licence details and check them against the Queensland Government’s published list of businesses that hold Class A and Class B asbestos removal licences (available through asbestos.qld.gov.au and worksafe.qld.gov.au). Any reputable removalist will be happy for you to check.
Before starting licensed asbestos removal work, the removalist must notify Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, generally at least five days in advance, and let the owner, occupier and nearby residents know before work begins. Queensland allows an exemption from the advance notice when removal is urgently needed because of flooding or severe weather.
It depends on the type of asbestos, where it is, how much there is and the safety controls being used. For many outdoor jobs, you’ll only need to stay away from the work area. Indoor or friable removal may require part or all of the property to be vacated. Ask the removalist to explain any restrictions before work begins.
Every job is different. The main factors are the type of asbestos (friable removal costs more), the amount, where it is, access, whether it’s damaged, the safety controls needed, disposal fees, any testing or air monitoring, whether clearance is required, and travel for rural locations.
Always ask for a written scope. It should state what’s being removed, the licence class, safety controls, how waste will be packaged, transported and disposed of, access requirements, the timeframe, exclusions, whether clearance is included, and the total price or how it’s calculated.
A clearance certificate confirms an area is safe to reoccupy after asbestos removal. For friable (Class A) removal, clearance must be done by an independent licensed asbestos assessor, with air monitoring required. For bonded (Class B) removal, it’s done by an independent competent person. Ask who will issue it and whether it’s included in your quote, and keep it for your records.
Cairns Regional Council accepts asbestos at the Portsmith Transfer Station, 35–51 Lyons Street, Portsmith, open 8:30am to 5:15pm, seven days a week. It is the only Council transfer station that takes asbestos — Smithfield, Gordonvale and Babinda do not. Your removalist should explain and document the disposal pathway for your job.
No. Asbestos must never go in household bins, recycling, general skip bins or kerbside collections, and must never be dumped. Illegal disposal carries significant penalties, and mixing asbestos with other waste can make disposal much more expensive.
Don’t touch or disturb it, and tell your landlord or property manager in writing as soon as possible. Damage that makes a property unsafe may count as an emergency repair under Queensland tenancy laws. The Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA) can explain your rights and your landlord’s responsibilities.
It’s a sensible step. A pre-purchase building inspection may note suspected asbestos, and a specialist asbestos inspection can give you more detail before you commit.
In Queensland, neighbours generally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence under the Neighbourhood Disputes (Dividing Fences and Trees) Act 2011, and you should give a formal Notice to Contribute for Fencing Work before work starts. How asbestos removal costs are split depends on the circumstances, so agree with your neighbour in writing before work starts.
In Queensland, asbestos issues at homes where the owner is doing the work are managed by your local council under public health laws. If a business, builder or tradesperson is involved, contact Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on 1300 362 128. For general asbestos complaints and urgent enquiries, including illegal dumping, you can also call 13 QGOV (13 74 68).
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