Asbestos Removal

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 — typically ranges from $50 to $100 per square metre for straightforward residential jobs. Pricing varies depending on scope — contact us for a free quote.

For an accurate quote, the team will inspect the material, confirm whether it’s bonded or friable, and assess access conditions.

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 or reduced 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 — material where fibres are bound in a matrix like cement. Examples: asbestos-cement sheets, eaves, fence panels.

DemoEx holds a Class B asbestos removal licence (AD214187) issued by SafeWork NSW, covering all bonded non-friable asbestos removal.

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, sealed waste bags, licensed disposal 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 cost of doing it incorrectly — health risk, fines for improper disposal, contaminated soil — vastly outweighs the savings.

Is asbestos still legal in Australia?

The manufacture, import, supply, sale, use, reuse, and storage of asbestos and asbestos-containing material has been banned in Australia since 31 December 2003. However, asbestos already in place in older buildings can legally remain, provided it’s in good condition and managed properly. Removal and disposal must be done by licensed contractors following SafeWork NSW regulations.

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

Where does removed asbestos go?

All asbestos removed by DemoEx is transported to a licensed asbestos disposal facility in Western Sydney, with full chain-of-custody documentation at every step. We provide disposal tracking records on request — increasingly required for council sign-off and insurance purposes.

Demolition

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 that meet State Environmental Planning Policy criteria.
  • Development Application (DA): Required for heritage-listed properties, contributory buildings, or anything that doesn’t fit CDC criteria. Lodged with Wollongong City Council and takes longer.

You’ll also need to notify neighbours (minimum 5 working days), disconnect services (electricity, gas, water, telecoms), and arrange an asbestos inspection before any work begins. Our team handles the full coordination.

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 and multi-dwelling structures.

What happens to the waste from a demolition?

All demolition waste goes to licensed facilities:

  • Concrete, brick, and tiles — sent to recyclers and crushed for reuse as road base or fill.
  • Timber — clean timber to recycling, treated or painted timber to landfill.
  • Metal — scrap recyclers.
  • Asbestos — licensed asbestos disposal facility in Western Sydney, with chain-of-custody documentation.

We provide waste tracking documentation on request.

Excavation

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 (free service — call 1100 or use the website) 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 we start.

How is excavation pricing calculated?

Excavation is usually priced one of two ways:

  • Hourly rate — machinery plus operator. A typical excavator and tipper combo runs around $200 to $350 per hour depending on machine size, with additional trucks charged separately for large spoil volumes.
  • Fixed-price quote — preferred for defined-scope jobs such as pool excavation, footing digs, or site cuts for a slab.

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.

General

What areas does DemoEx service?

DemoEx is based in Unanderra, Wollongong, and services approximately a 55km radius — from Helensburgh in the north to the Nowra Bridge in the south, and including the Southern Highlands. This covers the full Illawarra region including Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Port Kembla, Dapto, Albion Park, Bulli, Thirroul, Corrimal, Warilla, Gerringong, Berry, and surrounding areas.

For larger projects outside this area, get in touch — we can sometimes accommodate.

How quickly can you start a job?

It depends on the job type:

  • Small jobs (minor asbestos removal, small excavations) — can often start within a few days of accepting the quote.
  • Larger demolition and asbestos removal jobs — typically 2 to 4 weeks lead time, to allow for SafeWork NSW notification (minimum 5 working days), neighbour notifications, service disconnections, and logistics.

Emergency or urgent situations — call us directly on 0457 DEMOEX and we’ll see what we can do.

Are you fully licensed and insured?

Yes. DemoEx (EEPM Pty Ltd) holds:

  • Demolition Licence AD214216 — issued by NSW Fair Trading
  • Asbestos Removal Licence (Class B) AD214187 — issued by SafeWork NSW
  • Contractor Licence 380169C — NSW Fair Trading
  • Public liability insurance to $20 million
  • Workers compensation insurance for all staff

Certificates of currency are available on request before any job starts.