Yorke Peninsula Council has isolated two sites on southern Yorke Peninsula after material containing asbestos was found at an unsanctioned Marion Bay dump.

The Marion Bay and Berry Bay South locations are to be secured with temporary fencing to prevent unauthorised access, and warning signage installed, as council works with experts to remove the hazardous material and rehabilitate the land.

The Marion Bay site has been used as an undocumented and unapproved community dumping area for decades, a practice dating back to before smaller councils amalgamated to form YPC in 1997.

Members of the Formby Bay Environmental Action Group discovered items, including an old hot water heater, tin roofing, concrete, tyres, wire and piping, in a small quarry on Light house Road at Berry Bay South, in July.

According to the group, subsequent enquiries revealed the culprit was a YPC employee who transferred the rubbish from Marion Bay.

When the matter was brought to the attention of council’s senior management, they immediately launched an investigation into the matter.

The investigation, being conducted by an independent investigator, remains ongoing.

Non-friable asbestos products, like those found in the dump sites on southern Yorke Peninsula, are made from a bonding compound, such as cement, mixed with a small amount of asbestos, typically less than 15 per cent.

The products cannot easily be turned into dust, and do not normally release asbestos fibres into the air, and according to Yorke Peninsula Council, it poses a very low safety risk.

Council has arranged for the material to be removed as quickly as possible and has taken the extra step of utilising a dust suppression agent at both sites.

“We are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness,” CEO Andrew Cameron said.

“It is deeply regrettable council staff were not made aware of the unsanctioned dumping site sooner, but we have acted urgently to ensure the problem is resolved.

“We do not tolerate any form of illegal dumping regardless of any unwritten historical arrangements and will take every step possible to fix this problem and ensure it is never repeated.”

Serious penalties, including fines and imprisonment, may be imposed against any person found to be unlawfully depositing waste onto public or private land or into waters.

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 19 September 2023.