Kaloogleguy Reserve fence completed to help clean up contamination

The NSW Government has completed a perimeter fence, gates and permanent signage around the Kaloogleguy Reserve near Cobar as part of staged works to clean-up asbestos contamination at the site.

A 60-hectare section of the 6,350-hectare reserve was dug up without authorisation by a member of the public in 2019. The ploughing brought to the surface material including asbestos that had been previously dumped. This posed a health risk to the local Cobar community.

A $325,000 investment by Crown Lands has constructed a 8-kilometre fence around the impacted area. 19 gates were also constructed on existing tracks for fire management on Kaloogleguy Reserve, and permanent signs were erected to warn the local community about the presence of asbestos.

Crown Lands has been working with the Environment Protection Authority and Cobar Shire Council to determine safe ways to manage the asbestos found on the site. This included extensive soil sampling, air and dust monitoring around the impacted area, which was undertaken by the Soil Conservation Service.

Crown Lands will now plan for a second stage of the project to clean up the contamination on the site and identify opportunities to regenerate the land. It is hoped the whole 60-hectare area will one day again be available for recreational use once the area has been deemed safe.

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said:

“Public safety is the number one priority in managing asbestos. The construction of the fence around the impacted area will ensure no members of the public are exposed to potential contaminants.

“Crown Lands will now work towards rehabilitating the site to ensure asbestos remnants are removed and the area can be rehabilitated and made safe for future use.”

Member for Barwon Roy Butler said:

“The Kaloogleguy Reserve is a popular spot for locals. There are lots of tracks that people use for walking, cycling, motorbike and four-wheel drive use.

“That’s why it is very pleasing to see the impacted part of the reserve fenced off and warning signs clearly displayed so people stay clear of the affected area while the government gets on with the job of fixing it up for good.”