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Asbestos and meth contamination

Asbestos contamination

Properties contaminated with asbestos can be a health risk. This usually happens when the building material containing asbestos is disturbed, affecting residents and neighbouring properties. To prevent health risks associated with exposure to asbestos, different agencies work together to ensure that the effects are minimised.

You must take care when removing asbestos, especially when the material is brittle, crumbly or has contaminated dust. Removal can be undertaken by a contractor who has either an A class or B class licence. It is not necessary to use the contractors if less than 10m2 of asbestos is to be removed.

Asbestos testing

If you suspect that building material may contain asbestos, you can contact Public Health South. They are available to test domestic asbestos samples for free. These samples will be sent to a laboratory in Wellington.

Public Health South

Once asbestos contamination has been detected or confirmed by sample results, the Building, Planning, and Environmental Health services will liaise and discuss the contamination levels with you, and set up an action plan to remedy the situation.

Asbestos disposal

Asbestos requires a special waste permit to be disposed at the Southland Regional Landfill. For more information visit WasteNet.

Methamphetamine contamination

Properties contaminated with methamphetamine pose a serious health risk, especially to their occupants. Please ensure the suspected property should be tested out by contractors who are qualified, equipped, and experienced to perform hazardous tasks.

The Ministry of Health advises that professionals who assess and test a property must operate independently of commercial decontamination (remediation) companies. The NZ Standard for testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties sets out how to test and decontaminate your property.

The standard requires that you vacate and decontaminate the property. If you have tenants you need to make sure they leave the property.

The Council ensures that any information relating to meth contamination which is held on a property file is relayed to future owners through the Land Information Memorandum (LIM) process.

For further information on contaminated rental housing, refer to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development website:

If you have a general enquiry or a complaint about contamination, you should contact the Police or Public Health South.

Public Health South

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