More than 1000 pieces of material containing asbestos – mainly small fragments from cement sheeting – have been collected from Little Bay Beach since August last year.Despite regularly being removed by specialists the fragments continue to appear across the bay.Randwick Council has announced it will close the beach for up to two weeks in late April or early May to hold a thorough investigation into the source of the ongoing issue. The beach will be opened on weekends during that period.A council spokesman said expert advice had found the fragments did not pose an unacceptable risk to people’s health but beachgoers should still take caution.“Beachgoers are reminded not to touch or pick-up any material on the beach that looks like pieces of fibro sheeting,” the council spokesman said.“Sometimes the material may be weathered and can look like a piece of shell or sandstone. “If you see anything that you think may be asbestos on the beach, please notify council and we will safely remove it.”The material ranges in size from a five cent coin to the size of a person’s hand and was first spotted on the beach by a resident in August.The council understands the source is likely coming from nearby gullies which may have been used as landfill sites prior to 1988, when the adjacent Prince Henry Hospital was still operating.“The ongoing discovery of asbestos containing material indicates there is likely to be further contaminates located beneath the sand and in the gullies leading to the beach,” the spokesman said.“This is why a detailed site investigation is required to help council better understand the extent of the contamination and to help develop a long-term plan to manage it.”Asbestos removalists have been attending the beach on an ongoing basis to remove the fragments.



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