Got an old fibro fence? Don’t break it, pull it down or throw it out with ordinary rubbish.
Many older boundary fences across Wagga Wagga and NSW were built from asbestos cement sheeting, often called “fibro” or “super six” fencing. These fences were popular from the 1940s through to the 1980s, and plenty are still standing today. Left intact and in good condition, they generally pose a low risk. They become a concern when sheets are weathered, cracked, leaning, broken by storms or fallen branches, or when you’re planning to replace the fence.
Asbestos Removal Wagga Wagga helps you arrange licensed local professionals to assess and safely remove asbestos fencing, so your property, family and neighbours stay protected.
Asbestos cement fences usually have a grey, flat or corrugated appearance, often with a fine dimpled texture on one side, and are commonly set straight into the ground or on timber or steel frames. Many have been painted over the years, which can make them harder to recognise. Appearance alone can’t confirm asbestos, though. The only way to know for sure is testing by a NATA-accredited laboratory, and SafeWork NSW recommends that samples are collected by a competent person.
In most cases, yes. A typical 1.8 metre high boundary fence only needs to be about 6 metres long to pass 10 square metres of sheeting, and NSW law requires bonded asbestos over 10 square metres to be removed by a Class A or Class B licensed removalist. Even for smaller sections, SafeWork NSW recommends using a licensed professional.
Most asbestos fences sit on a shared boundary, so your neighbour is usually involved. Under the NSW Dividing Fences Act 1991, neighbours generally share the cost of a sufficient dividing fence, and you’re expected to give your neighbour written notice (a fencing notice) before carrying out work. How asbestos removal costs are divided can depend on the circumstances, such as the fence’s condition or who caused any damage, so it’s best to talk early and agree in writing.
Before work is scheduled, agree on access to both sides of the fence, who is paying for what, the removal and replacement timing, and how pets, children and gardens on each side will be kept safe. If you can’t reach an agreement, the free mediation service offered by Community Justice Centres NSW can help, and unresolved disputes can be taken to the Local Court.
It’s tempting to treat an old fence as a weekend job, but breaking sheets apart, snapping them off at ground level or smashing them into a skip bin can release fibres and contaminate your yard and your neighbour’s.
Please don’t pull at loose sheets, pressure-clean or sand the fence, dig near its base with power tools, or sweep and brush up broken pieces from the ground. High-pressure water spray is prohibited on asbestos under NSW WHS regulations.
Asbestos fence sheets are often buried 300 millimetres or more into the soil, and older fences may have left broken fragments in garden beds and lawn along the boundary. A thorough removal should cover the below-ground sections of the sheets and any visible fragments in the surrounding soil. Check whether this is included in your quote.
Storms and falling branches are a common cause of broken asbestos fences in the Riverina.
If your fence has been damaged, keep people and pets away from the broken area, don’t hose, sweep or mow over debris, and cover exposed pieces loosely with plastic if it’s safe to do so without handling them. Contact your insurer and arrange a licensed professional to make the site safe.
A well-planned fence removal keeps disruption to a minimum. Your contractor will assess the fence’s condition, length, access, shared-boundary issues and surrounding landscaping, then explain the method, work sequence and any areas you’ll need to avoid while work is underway.
Before starting licensed work, the removalist must notify SafeWork NSW at least five days in advance. On the day, the work area will be marked off, sheets will be wetted down to reduce dust and removed as whole as possible, then wrapped in heavy-duty plastic and labelled. Asbestos waste in NSW can only go to a facility licensed to accept it, and loads over 100 kilograms or 10 square metres must be tracked through the NSW EPA’s Integrated Waste Tracking Solution (IWTS). Once removal is complete, a clearance inspection should confirm the area is safe.
It’s worth coordinating your new fence at the same time so your yard isn’t left open for long, particularly if you have pets or a pool. Pool owners should be aware that if the boundary fence forms part of the pool barrier, NSW pool safety laws require the barrier to stay compliant, so temporary pool fencing may be needed during the works. Many standard replacement fences are exempt development in NSW, but height and location limits apply, so check with Wagga Wagga City Council if you’re unsure.
A clear, written scope should confirm the length and height of fencing being removed, whether in-ground sections and soil fragments are included, how waste will be packaged and disposed of, access arrangements for both properties, any temporary fencing, whether replacement is included or coordinated, and the clearance step at the end.
To help us arrange the right contractor, send us the approximate fence length and height, whether it’s shared with a neighbour, its current condition, any access limitations, and photos taken safely from a distance. Call 0480 850 340 or request an assessment online, and we’ll connect you with a local licensed removalist who can assess the job and provide a written scope.