Council staff have until the next council meeting, on May 14, to develop a management plan on how to to deal with asbestos at Wamberal and Terrigal Beaches.
The report will include implementation dates of any action to be taken.
The issue was debated as a matter or urgency at the April 23 council meeting when Councillor Pilon brought forward the matter.
The councillors want to know about all the actions taken at the beach since a report from a site inspection on June 15, 2016. And they want to know if all the issues raised in that report about storm erosion remediation were dealt with adequately.
Councillors want staff to provide them with surveys identifying private and public boundaries of affected properties noted in the remediation report and they want the report made public.
They have also asked that another report, by the NSW Government’s Office of Environment and Heritage, be released.
Mayor Jane Smith there was concern in the community about the potential presence of asbestos-containing material at Wamberal and Terrigal Beaches, and council needed to take decisive action to resolve it.
“I commend staff, and particularly Acting CEO Brian Glendenning for their swift action in removing asbestos from these beaches and securing the beach for the safety of beachgoers,” Mayor Smith said.
“Council has certainly been proactive in the short term but the focus now needs to be on coming up with a long-term strategy that will satisfy beachgoers, local landowners and the community.
“We are committed to continue to working with the State Government, particularly the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), to resolving this issue in the best interests of our community.”
Council staff are conducting at least twice weekly inspections of Wamberal and Terrigal Beaches.
Council says residents should not remove but report any material potentially containing asbestos to the Environment Protection Authority or to council.
The council will publish an information sheet outlining the potential risks of contact with asbestos material, and distribute that information sheet to residents that live next to Wamberal and Terrigal beaches.
