Got an old fibro fence? Don't break it, pull it down or throw it out with ordinary rubbish.
Many older boundary fences across Hobart were built from asbestos cement sheeting, often flat or corrugated "fibro" panels. These fences were popular for decades, and plenty are still standing today. Left intact and in good condition, they generally pose a low risk. They become a concern when sheets are weathered, cracked, leaning, broken by storms or fallen branches, or when you're planning to replace the fence.
Asbestos cement fences usually have a grey, flat or corrugated appearance, often with a fine dimpled texture on one side, and are commonly set straight into the ground. Many have been painted over the years, which makes them harder to recognise. Appearance alone can't confirm asbestos. The only way to know for sure is testing by a NATA-accredited laboratory.
In most cases, yes. A typical 1.8 metre high boundary fence only needs to be about 6 metres long to pass 10 square metres of sheeting, and Tasmania law requires bonded asbestos over 10 square metres to be removed by a licensed removalist. Even for smaller sections, a licensed professional is the safest choice.
Most asbestos fences sit on a shared boundary, so your neighbour is usually involved. In Tasmania, boundary fences are covered by the Boundary Fences Act 1908. Neighbours are generally equally responsible for the cost of a sufficient boundary fence, but to require your neighbour to contribute you need to serve a notice in the prescribed form before work starts. Your neighbour then has 21 days to object. If a fence goes up without the proper notice or an agreement, your neighbour can't be made to pay. Disputes are resolved by arbitration rather than a tribunal. Tasmania Legal Aid publishes the notice forms and a helpful plain-English guide.
Before work is scheduled, agree on access to both sides of the fence, who is paying for what, the removal and replacement timing, and how pets, children and gardens on each side will be kept safe.
Why You Shouldn't Remove an Asbestos Fence Yourself — breaking sheets apart, snapping them off at ground level or smashing them into a skip can release fibres and contaminate your yard and your neighbour's. Please don't pull at loose sheets, pressure-clean or sand the fence, dig near its base with power tools, or sweep up broken pieces. Tasmanian Work Health and Safety laws prohibit using high-pressure water spray or compressed air on asbestos, and restrict the use of power tools such as grinders, saws and sanders, because these release fibres.
Asbestos fence sheets are often buried 300 millimetres or more into the soil, and older fences may have left broken fragments in garden beds and lawn along the boundary. A thorough removal should cover the below-ground sections and any visible fragments in the surrounding soil. Check whether this is included in your quote.
Hobart regularly sees storms, strong winds and bushfires, and fallen branches are a common cause of broken fibro fences. If your fence has been damaged, keep people and pets away, don't hose, sweep or mow over debris, and contact your insurer. A licensed professional can make the site safe and remove the damaged sections properly.
Coordinate your new fence at the same time so your yard isn't left open for long, particularly with pets or a pool. If the boundary fence forms part of a pool barrier, Tasmanian building regulations require pool barriers to stay compliant, so temporary pool fencing may be needed during the works. Check with City of Hobart if you're unsure whether your new fence needs approval.
Request an asbestos fence assessment. Send us the approximate fence length and height, whether it's shared, its condition, any access issues, and photos taken safely from a distance.
Call us or request an assessment online.