Loose-fill Asbestos Program

The NSW Government has determined that demolition, comprehensive site remediation and disposal is the best way to ensure the health and safety of the NSW community.

Owners of premises can arrange to have their property privately tested by a Licensed Asbestos Assessor. Once the property has been privately tested by a licensed asbestos assessor and verified by a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory to contain LFAI, contact Service NSW.

Once a positive test is confirmed by the program, homeowners may be eligible to participate in the Loose-fill Asbestos Program.

Under the program, owners have options available to them, including the NSW Government purchasing their home at market value. The affected property will then be demolished, and the land remediated.

Demolition and remediation

The demolition and remediation of an affected premises is carefully planned and safety is the main priority for the workers on site, neighbours and the wider community.

If you’re a neighbour where a house is being demolished with LFAI, NSW Fair Trading will be in contact with information about the process. 

More information is available about the remediation and demolition process.

History of the program

In the 1960s and 1970s a company known as Mr Fluffy used raw amosite and crocidolite asbestos, known as loose-fill asbestos, as ceiling insulation in some ACT and NSW homes.

Free testing for loose-fill asbestos insulation was offered to owners of pre-1980s properties in identified local government areas, to identify homes affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation. Property testing, which is now complete, was undertaken by licensed asbestos assessors. This is the best and safest way to determine whether or not a property contains loose-fill asbestos insulation.

Under the program, owners of affected properties had different options. This included the NSW Government purchasing the home at market value, demolishing the property and remediating the land.

If you did not register for testing and are concerned that your property may be affected by loose-fill asbestos insulation, read more about testing your property and arranging your own test.

Under the program, more than 71,000 homes were tested.