The council revealed in April that “a low level of asbestos” had been found in a clean-up of the Laidlaw Street land during preparations for its sale. Removal started on April 30. A community report submitted to the EPA on May 1 triggered an inspection from the agency, which immediately ordered the council to stop transporting the waste.

A council spokeswoman confirmed the accredited asbestos removal contractor “was not compliant with some vehicles not complying with tarp requirements covering the load” but “as soon as council became aware of the non-compliance by the contractor works ceased immediately,” she said.

An EPA spokeswoman said the council complied with the Notice of Clean-Up Action and activity started again on May 17 after a follow-up inspection. “[The] council has advised the EPA that transport activities from the Laidlaw Street property to the Murrumbateman landfill have now been completed and the EPA is satisfied the waste has been appropriately disposed of at this landfill,” the EPA spokeswoman said.

The Murrumbateman landfill has been closed since 2015. Removal of contaminated soil finished on May 24. The only remaining site work was the removal of stored steel, the council spokeswoman said.

Other complaints made directly to the Yass Valley Council related to truck movements and their impact on roads, particularly Dog Trap Road, the council spokeswoman said. “[The] council used a water truck to suppress dust on Dog Trap Road during movements and graded the road on completion of works,” she said.

On ensuring compliance with Environmental Protection Authority requirements in future, she said: “[The] council worked closely with the EPA on this particular matter and will continue to work closely with the EPA into the future.

“The safety of our community and our environment is of utmost importance and working closely with the EPA will continue to ensure all safety measures are taken into account.”