Emergency Environmental Assessment and Asbestos Risk Management - Koolewong Bushfire, Central Coast NSW
Rapid Incident Response Following Bushfire Impact
Confluence Environmental was engaged by a local council to undertake an urgent environmental and asbestos risk assessment following the Koolewong bushfires on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The event resulted in significant damage to an isolated township, with more than fifteen (15) structures including residential dwellings, completely destroyed.
Preliminary inspections identified friable asbestos contamination affecting sections of the primary access roads leading into the impacted area. The presence of asbestos debris created an immediate environmental and public health risk, preventing safe access for emergency services, recovery crews, and returning residents. Confluence Environmental was engaged to rapidly assess the contamination, stabilise risk, and guide safe, compliant recovery under emergency conditions.
Emergency Asbestos Contamination Assessment
Our team mobilised urgently to site to undertake a structured environmental assessment of the affected access roads and surrounding areas. The objective was to determine the extent of asbestos contamination, evaluate exposure pathways, and support immediate decision-making to enable safe access.
The assessment included:
Detailed inspection of fire-impacted areas and debris fields
Identification of friable asbestos contamination on roadways and adjacent land
Environmental risk assessment and exposure pathway evaluation
Delineation of affected areas requiring remediation and control
Immediate reporting to support emergency response decision-making
The presence of friable asbestos required a controlled and coordinated response to prevent fibre release and contamination spread.
Remediation Planning and Risk Control
Following the assessment, Confluence Environmental developed a targeted remediation and risk management approach to support rapid site stabilisation and safe recovery. The strategy focused on controlling asbestos risk, protecting responders and the public, and enabling safe access restoration under emergency conditions.
Key actions included:
Development of asbestos remediation and control strategy
Environmental risk stabilisation and contamination management
Coordination with council, contractors, and emergency services
Implementation of contamination control and safe work practices
Preparation of clear, defensible technical reporting
The remediation approach prioritised both safety and urgency, recognising the critical need to reopen access routes for emergency response and community recovery.
Asbestos Air Monitoring and Clearance Assessment
To protect workers, emergency personnel, and the surrounding community, Confluence Environmental conducted reassurance and control asbestos air monitoring prior to and during remediation activities. Monitoring was undertaken to assess airborne fibre risk, confirm effectiveness of control measures, and support safe progression of recovery works.
Following completion of remediation activities, our in-house Licensed Asbestos Assessors conducted a visual clearance inspection of the affected roadways to confirm the removal of asbestos debris and ensure the area was safe for controlled reopening.
Rapid Restoration of Safe Access
Through coordinated environmental assessment, risk management, and remediation oversight, Confluence Environmental supported the safe reopening of the affected access roads within 48 hours of engagement. This enabled emergency services to safely access the isolated township and allowed residents to begin returning to their homes following the bushfire event.
The rapid response and structured environmental management approach ensured that asbestos risk was effectively controlled, environmental and public health risks were minimised, and recovery could proceed safely and compliantly.
Emergency Environmental and Disaster Recovery Expertise
This project demonstrates Confluence Environmental’s capability to deliver rapid, high-quality incident response and environmental assessment under emergency conditions, including:
Bushfire-related environmental contamination
Friable asbestos emergency assessment and management
Rapid environmental risk evaluation and reporting
Remediation planning and contamination control
Asbestos air monitoring and clearance assessment
Regulatory-aligned disaster recovery support
Our integrated expertise across environmental consulting, asbestos and hazardous materials, and occupational hygiene enables us to respond quickly to environmental incidents, stabilise risk, and support safe, compliant recovery for communities, infrastructure, and emergency responders.
Need Rapid Environmental Incident Support?
If your site has been impacted by fire, flooding, asbestos contamination, or environmental incident, early professional assessment is critical to protect health, manage risk, and guide safe recovery.
Confluence Environmental provides incident response and disaster recovery consulting across NSW, delivering rapid environmental assessment, asbestos risk management, and compliant remediation support when it matters most.