1. How much does asbestos removal cost in Wollongong?

Asbestos removal pricing depends on the type of asbestos, the quantity, and access conditions. In the Illawarra region, bonded (non-friable) asbestos — like asbestos-cement sheeting, eaves, and fences — starts from $50 per square metre for straightforward residential jobs.

If material testing is required to confirm whether asbestos is present: $200 for the first sample, $80 for each additional sample. All waste is disposed of at EPA-approved tipping locations with full documentation.

For an accurate quote, the team attends site, confirms whether the material is bonded or friable, measures quantities, and provides a written quote within 24 hours.

2. Do I need council approval to demolish a house in NSW?

Yes. In New South Wales, you can’t demolish a residential structure without one of two approvals:

  • Complying Development Certificate (CDC): Faster, issued by a private certifier. Suitable for most standard residential demolitions on non-heritage properties.
  • Development Application (DA): Required for heritage-listed properties, contributory buildings, or anything that doesn’t fit CDC criteria. Lodged with Wollongong City Council.

You’ll also need to notify neighbours, disconnect services (electricity, gas, water, telecoms), and arrange an asbestos inspection before any work begins. Our team handles the full coordination.

3. How long does a typical house demolition take?

The physical demolition of a standard single-storey home usually takes 1 to 3 days on site. The full process — permits, service disconnections, asbestos inspection and removal (if present), demolition, waste removal, and site clean-up — typically runs 2 to 6 weeks from when you engage a contractor.

Factors that extend the timeline: heritage approvals, friable asbestos, complex access, or two-storey/multi-dwelling structures.

4. What’s the difference between Class A and Class B asbestos removal?

Under the NSW Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, asbestos removal licences come in two classes:

  • Class A licence: Required to remove friable asbestos (any amount) — material that can be crumbled to powder by hand pressure when dry. Examples: pipe lagging, sprayed coatings, vermiculite insulation.
  • Class B licence: Required to remove more than 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos — fibres bound in a cement matrix. Examples: asbestos-cement sheets, eaves, fence panels.

DemoEx holds a SafeWork NSW Class B (Non-Friable) Asbestos Removal Licence — AD214187 (valid to 7 May 2028). For Class A friable asbestos jobs, we coordinate with licensed Class A partners.

5. Can I remove asbestos myself?

Legally, in NSW, a homeowner can remove up to 10 square metres of non-friable (bonded) asbestos from their own home without a licence — provided they follow SafeWork NSW guidelines: correct PPE, wet methods only, no power tools, double-bagging, disposal at an EPA-approved facility.

You cannot legally remove friable asbestos, or more than 10 sqm of bonded asbestos, without the appropriate licence. We strongly recommend using a licensed contractor for any asbestos work — the risks (health, fines of $15,000+ for improper disposal, contaminated soil) vastly outweigh the savings.

6. Is asbestos still legal in Australia?

The manufacture, import, supply, sale, use, reuse, and storage of asbestos has been banned in Australia since 31 December 2003. However, asbestos already in place in older buildings can legally remain if in good condition and managed properly.

Roughly 1 in 3 Australian homes built before 1990 contain some asbestos — most commonly in eaves, bathroom walls, fences, and roof sheeting.

7. Do I need a permit to excavate on my property in NSW?

It depends on the scope:

  • Small excavations under 1 metre depth on your own property generally don’t require council approval, but Dial Before You Dig (call 1100 — free service) is mandatory before any excavation to identify underground services.
  • Larger excavations, work near boundaries, work in flood-prone areas, or excavation as part of a build typically requires a Development Application or forms part of your Construction Certificate.

If you’re not sure, we can assess the scope and advise before you commit to anything.

8. How is excavation pricing calculated?

Excavation is usually priced one of two ways:

  • Hourly rate for machinery + operator. DemoEx excavators run from $120 to $200 per hour depending on machine size, with extra for tipper trucks if you’re moving large volumes of spoil.
  • Fixed-price quote for defined-scope jobs (pool excavation, footing dig, site cut for a slab) — preferred where scope is well-defined.

Soil type matters: rock and clay are slower than loam. Tip fees for spoil disposal are charged separately and depend on whether the soil is clean fill or contaminated.

9. What happens to the waste from a demolition?

All demolition waste from our jobs goes to licensed, EPA-approved facilities:

  • Concrete, brick, and tiles — taken to recyclers and crushed for reuse as road base or fill.
  • Timber — clean timber to recycling, treated/painted timber to landfill.
  • Metal — scrap recyclers.
  • Asbestos — must go to a licensed asbestos disposal facility with chain-of-custody documentation at every step.
  • General mixed waste — EPA-approved waste facilities.

We provide waste tracking documentation on request, increasingly required for council sign-off and insurance.

10. What areas do you service?

DemoEx is based in Woonona and services a ~55 km radius from Unanderra, covering the entire Illawarra, South Coast, and Southern Highlands:

Wollongong, Port Kembla, Dapto, Albion Park, Shellharbour, Warilla, Kiama, Helensburgh, Bulli, Thirroul, Corrimal, Unanderra, Figtree, Mount Keira, Berkeley, Warrawong, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Berry, Bowral, Mittagong, Moss Vale, and surrounding areas.

For projects outside this area, contact us — we can sometimes accommodate larger jobs further afield.

11. How quickly can you start a job?

DemoEx provides written quotes within 24 hours of a site visit. Site visits are typically:

  • Same day in the Wollongong area
  • Next day for Kiama and surrounds
  • 2–3 days for Bowral and the Southern Highlands

For licensed asbestos removal, SafeWork NSW requires a minimum 5 working days’ notification before work can begin. Demolition jobs typically need 2–3 weeks lead time once approvals are in place. For urgent jobs, call us directly.

12. Are you fully licensed and insured?

Yes. DemoEx (EEPM PTY LTD, ABN 14 647 648 780) holds:

  • SafeWork NSW Class B (Non-Friable) Asbestos Removal Licence — AD214187 (valid to 7 May 2028)
  • SafeWork NSW Restricted Demolition Licence — AD214216 (valid to 27 June 2028)
  • NSW Fair Trading Contractor Licence — 380169C (Excavator & Electrician classes, valid to 20 February 2027)
  • Public Liability Insurance — $20,000,000 (QBE Insurance, policy 12TI039773ISP)
  • Workers Compensation Insurance for all staff

Certificates of currency available on request before any job starts. Licences can be verified at verify.licence.nsw.gov.au or by calling SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50.