Pre-Demolition Asbestos Removal in Bendigo

Why removal comes first

Demolish a building with its asbestos still in place, and the fibro breaks up and mixes with bricks, timber and soil. The whole pile must then be treated as asbestos-contaminated waste. That is slower, far more expensive to dispose of, and more dangerous for everyone on site and next door.

The houses involved

On the larger blocks in suburbs like Kennington, Strathdale, Flora Hill and Golden Square, the houses that make way for a knock-down rebuild are often:

• Post-war fibro homes with asbestos in walls, eaves, wet areas and roofs
• 1960s–80s brick veneers with eaves, wet areas and sometimes ceilings
• Older houses with additions, where the newer rear rooms hold the asbestos
• Blocks with outbuildings such as garages, sheds, sleep-outs and fences

The Bendigo Asbestos Removal process for pre-demolition removal

Step by step

1. 1

   Pre-demolition inspection

   The whole building is inspected, including roof space, subfloor and outbuildings. Suspect materials are sampled and listed in a report. For workplaces, the asbestos register is reviewed and given to the demolition contractor.

2. 2

   Asbestos control plan and notification

   Removal is planned from the report, and WorkSafe Victoria is notified at least five days before work starts.

3. 3

   Removal

   Bonded and friable asbestos is removed by the appropriate licence class while the building still has its roof and walls to work from.

4. 4

   Clearance

   An independent inspection and clearance certificate.

5. 5

   Handover

   With clearance in hand, demolition goes ahead.

What to expect from pre-demolition removal

• A quote based on the inspection report, not on a guess.
• Outbuildings and fences included, because they're often overlooked until the end.
• A clearance certificate for licensed removal over 10 m² and every friable job. Your demolition contractor and building surveyor may ask for it.
• A realistic timeline. Inspection and lab results, WorkSafe's five-day notice, removal and clearance usually add up to a couple of weeks for a typical house.

Planning a Bendigo demolition permit

Start early. Your building surveyor may ask how asbestos has been dealt with, and services such as gas and power must be disconnected before demolition. Finding asbestos mid-demolition stops work in that area until it is assessed and removed.

Pre-demolition removal across Bendigo and district

Pre-demolition removal is available in Bendigo, Kangaroo Flat, Strathfieldsaye, Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Castlemaine and Heathcote.

Pre-demolition removal: common questions