A worker at the scene in Flinders. Pictures: DAVE TEASE
A load of asbestos fibro sheeting found dumped at Flinders on Wednesday morning came from former Shellharbour mayor Kellie Marsh’s home, she says.
A ute containing the bonded asbestos was stolen, and is believed to have dropped the load of sheeting near Flinders Public School about 3.30am.
Three roads remained closed over the day and the clean-up operation took about 12 hours.
Police, firefighters and representatives from the Environment Protection Authority showed up about 7am.
The material was found on Tuan Street, and sections of Brunderee and Baragoot roads, Shellharbour City Council said.
In a strange sequence of events, the sheeting originated from the Barrack Heights property rented by Cr Marsh, who informed the Mercury of the incident yesterday morning, after a fibro fence at the home was demolished on Tuesday.
Cr Marsh told the Mercury that workers removed the fence from the property and loaded it into the back of a ute.
‘‘It was an old fibro fence that had been there for about 30 years,’’ she said.
The ute, which did not belong to Cr Marsh, was then parked outside a home in Potaroo Place, Blackbutt overnight.
However, sometime after 1am, the ute was stolen and the sheeting was dumped on the roundabout in Flinders.
Cr Marsh said that when she heard the ute had been stolen early yesterday morning, she rang Shellharbour council to alert them.
About 5.30am, the ute was set alight near Verbena Way in Barrack Heights, police said.
Cr Marsh said she believed her fence did not contain asbestos, after a specialist inspected it before she moved in, so was shocked when HazMat crews investigating the material at Flinders told her otherwise.
‘‘My son and I have been playing in the backyard and the fence was broken up,’’ she said.
A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said the material at Flinders contained asbestos.
An occupational hygienist and asbestos management experts cleaned the site, over more than 12 hours for the council.
‘‘The specialists identified that the material was bonded asbestos, which is considered to be the safest form of the hazardous material,’’ the council said.
Police confirmed the connection between the material at Flinders and a burnt-out ute found at Barrack Heights.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or Lake Illawarra police on 42325599.
