HOME IMPROVEMENTS
DIY warning: Asbestos dangers still hiding in NSW homes
A major statewide campaign is rolling out across New South Wales from summer through to April 2026, urging residents to be alert to the hidden dangers of asbestos when renovating or repairing their homes.
Timed with National Asbestos Awareness Week in late November, the campaign calls on the community to stop, think and plan before starting any DIY project to avoid potentially deadly asbestos exposure.
Asbestos is still present in millions of Australian homes, with one in three houses nationwide containing it somewhere. Around 4,000 Australians die each year from asbestos-related diseases – more than three times the national road toll. Yet many people continue to underestimate the risks, especially when disturbing older building materials commonly found in walls, ceilings, bathrooms, laundries, flooring and exterior cladding.
NSW EPA Chief Executive Tony Chappel said the campaign aims to give people the knowledge they need to stay safe.
“ Asbestos is still all around us, and far too many people underestimate how easy it is to disturb it during routine DIY jobs,” Mr Chappel said.“ No renovation is worth risking your health. If you think it might be asbestos, treat it like it is. Call a licensed asbestos professional before you pick up a tool.”
The campaign focuses on three simple steps:
• Assume a material contains asbestos if you’ re unsure
• Plan ahead before starting any project
• Contact a licensed asbestos professional for advice, testing, removal or safe management
National Asbestos Awareness Week is a reminder that asbestos safety is everyone’ s responsibility – not just tradespeople. With simple precautions, the community can prevent long-term and potentially fatal health impacts.
For more information, visit www. asbestos. nsw. gov. au
4572
7549“ For Great Service & Competitive Prices” Come Visit Us In Store
729 George Street SOUTH WINDSOR
NORMAN’ S
SCRAP METALS
WIDE RANGE OF LANDSCAPE SUPPLIES, TOOLS & HARDWARE!
• Garden Soils
• Topdressing Soils
• Turf Underlay
• Sand
• Fertilisers
• Manure
• Decorative Pebbles
• Decorative Mulches
• Cement Products
• Building Supplies
• Bricks, Blocks & Pavers
• Firewood
Phone 4572 7549 www. parkleasandsoil. com. au
$$$ For All Your Scrap Metal
WE BUY ALUMINIUM, STEEL, BRASS, COPPER & STAINLESS STEEL
30 Ton Weighbridge at our Penrith site
PENRITH 34 PEACHTREE RD, PENRITH PH:( 02) 4732 1683( Off Castlereagh Rd)
OPEN 7 DAYS
Free Call 1800 225 235
AUBURN 6 BLIGH STREET, AUBURN PH:( 02) 9748 0611 FAX:( 02) 4721 7658
www. normansscrapmetal. com. au
36 ISSUE 176 // DECEMBER 2025 MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY HOLIDAYS! theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT