Shire ‘leaves Bells asbestos to spread’

ERIN PEARSON
Holiday-makers unwittingly frolicked amid asbestos strewn across Bells Beach on the long weekend after Surf Coast Shire ignored clean-up pleas, according to a community group.
Bells Beach Preservation Society’s Paul Hart urged the shire to take immediate action to remove an exposed and damaged asbestos pipe spreading debris throughout the sand at the world-famous break.
Mr Hart and other preservation society members inspected the site this week after the Independent reported concerns that asbestos had become a health hazard at Bells.
Geelong Trades and Labour Council secretary Tim Gooden was alarmed after finding the cancer-causing material on the beach and dumped under bushes.
The shire responded this week with staff placing orange plastic barrier fencing around the pipe on the beach but Mr Gooden blasted the work as “not secure enough”.
“More people could have potentially been exposed to asbestos. The area is supposed to be secured to the point where if someone was to enter the area they’d have to deliberately climb over a large fence to do the wrong thing.
“Tape isn’t goon enough. People must be protected and know that asbestos is there.”
Long-time Bells surfer Pete Bistak, of Torquay, was furious about chunks of asbestos up to 20 centimetres wide strewn across the sand and rocks.
“All the local surfers here know about the pipe and know it’s been exposed like it is for months and months. We get paranoid if the wind starts blowing,” Mr Bistak said.
“We just can’t believe it’s still there. We have to walk right past it to go up the stairs to our cars, so of course it’s a threat.”
Mr Bistak said the health hazard at Bells contradicted the essence of surfing.
“We like to think of ourselves as healthy people but asbestos isn’t good. I remember watching the (Rip Curl) Pro here as a 13-year-old boy but now look at the place.”
Torquay’s Barbara McVey was “horrified” to see the asbestos on the beach.
“I don’t understand why it’s still there. There are so many things in the world that can’t be fixed but this can be.”
Scotland’s Lara McVey, who grew up in Torquay, said the asbestos was shocking.
“People back home know where Bells Beach is – it’s an icon,” she said.
“Why isn’t someone fixing this?”
Department of Sustainability and Environment had not returned the Independent’s call for comment before the paper went to press.
Surf Coast Shire refuses to answer questions from the Independent.