Public consultation on a nationally consistent approach to managing asbestos-cement water and sewer pipes
- 10 November 2020 - Update -
The finalisation of the AC Water and Sewer Pipe Management Guidelines has been delayed to ensure that due consideration is given to all submissions that were received during the public consultation period.
The Agency anticipates that the Guidelines will be finalised in early 2021.
Consultation has now closed. The draft guidelines are still available for viewing.
In 2018, the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency released a report Case studies of asbestos water pipe management practices. The report examined six cases of rehabilitating water and sewer pipes containing asbestos in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia and identified best practice for safe and effective management and removal.
The report recommended that a clear, nationally consistent approach to managing asbestos cement water pipes is needed for cost-effectively managing approximately 40,000 km of water mains pipes and 5,000 km of sewer pipes containing asbestos cement across Australia.
In response to that recommendation, the Agency developed the draft Asbestos-Cement (AC) Water and Sewer Pipe Management Guidelines, in collaboration with a working group representing industry, union and government officials. The draft Guidelines have now been released for public consultation. The Guidelines provide information on asbestos cement water and sewer pipe removal and remediation methods, and the issues that water agencies should consider in deciding how to safely manage AC water and sewer pipes.
Submissions are invited from the public, industry and government and must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 7 August 2020. Details on how to make a submission are included with the Guidelines in the attachments below.
Any queries about the public consultation can be sent to the Agency via email to engage@asbestossafety.gov.au.
Guidelines for Consultation can be found here:
Draft Asbestos-Cement (AC) Water and Sewer Pipe Management Guidelines for Public Consultation
