A crumbling fence in south Auckland might not seem noteworthy, but it’s one of thousands across the city that could threaten public health.
It has holes in it, and chunks are falling off – but the real problem is that the fence contains tiny carcinogenic asbestos fibres.
An independent hazmat consultant says the fence in Pukekohe could be a health risk if fragments strewn across the path and adjacent driveways are pulverised by cars or bicycles, producing dust.
According to the Ministry of Health, airborne asbestos can cause malignant tumours and cancer when breathed into the lungs. The greater exposure, the higher the risk.
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It took four weeks for Auckland Council to produce a report confirming the fence contained asbestos after it was contacted by Stuff following a reader tip. The council is now considering asking residents to share the costs of removing the fence.
The 30 metre dilapidated fence is made of corrugated fibre cement and runs along a public pathway from Prospect Terrace to a park next to Franklin Pool and Leisure. It borders several homes.
The broken fragments of fence create risk, according to independent hazmat consultant Adam Gordon.
Hazmat consultant Adam Gordon said fences that contain asbestos are safe if they are maintained and sealed with paint, but a crumbling fence could be a cause for concern.
Gordon assessed the site and considered it to be “medium to high risk”. That was because he couldn’t be sure whether it was “blue asbestos” that contained extremely sharp crocidolite fibres.
He said there were likely “thousands” of asbestos fences across Auckland and if people identify one at their property they should have it checked out.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff
Adam Gordon said he was not familiar with how the council’s operations work, but in the private sector asbestos results could be returned within a day.
When a visual journalist visited the public accessway several days later, pieces of the crumbling fence were strewn across the path, despite assurances from council they would be cleared as soon as possible.
Area operations manager Eli Ewens acknowledged the fence was in poor condition, and recommended it was removed by a licensed specialist.
However, he said it was not an “immediate” risk because the asbestos was “non-friable” which meant that it couldn’t be pulverised or reduced to dust by hand pressure.
When asked how long it would take for the fence to be removed, Ewens said the council was “working to find a suitable supplier to investigate and scope the fence removal”.
LAWRENCE SMITH/Stuff
Several properties back onto the fence, which runs along a public walkway.
He said that when the time came, the council would be working with the neighbours to make sure works would be done in a way that was safe.
A council spokesperson said the fence was a “shared asset” and that the council was considering whether it would be asking the neighbours to share the cost of removal.
Under the Fencing Act, once a landowner has a quote for a fence they can serve it upon their neighbour and require that the neighbour pay part of the cost.
Do you have an asbestos fence in your neighbourhood? Contact jonathan.killick@stuff.co.nz
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