Asbestos from Sydney development 'dumped on Central Coast'

Police are investigating after asbestos from a Sydney development site was found dumped almost 100km away on the Central Coast.

The restricted waste – which landowners say they were told was uncontaminated - was found as part of a Redfern Police Area Command investigation called Strike Force Dothan.

The strike force was set up to investigate anomalies recorded in the removal and disposal of waste as part of the Green Square Town Centre development in Alexandria, which includes hundreds of apartments as well as a swimming pool.

In August 2016, contractors were required to remove excavated material which included asbestos and restricted waste that could only be safely disposed of at two Sydney sites.

However police, working with NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), will allege that up to 17,000 tonnes of waste appears to have been dumped or disposed of illegally.

Investigators searched a property on Cherry Lane at Kulnura today. The owners told police they were told the material dumped at their property was ‘clean fill’ meaning it was uncontaminated.

Samples from the property will be analysed and police expect a large scale clean-up will take place.

Investigators believe the illegal dumping operation is linked to organised crime.

A 48-year-old man remains before the courts after being charged with numerous offences by Strike Force Dothan investigators, including fraud offences totalling almost $4 million relating to the illegal dumping of asbestos.

Investigations are continuing.