Before a house, shed or commercial building in the Geelong region is knocked down, any asbestos that could be disturbed has to be found and, as far as reasonably practicable, removed. Getting that order right protects the workers, your neighbours and you, and it prevents the expensive situation where a demolition stops halfway because fibro turns up in the rubble.
Geelong Demolition Service is a referral service. With your consent, we connect you with one independent demolition business, which either holds an asbestos removal licence or engages a licensed asbestos removalist. We do not test, remove or certify asbestos ourselves.
Which buildings are likely to contain asbestos
Asbestos building products were widely used in Australia until the late 1980s and were banned nationally in 2003. In practice, any Geelong building built or renovated before about 1990 should be assumed to contain some until testing says otherwise. Common locations include:
- fibro (asbestos cement) wall and eave sheeting
- bathroom and laundry wall linings
- corrugated cement roofing on sheds, garages and additions
- vinyl floor tiles and the adhesive beneath them
- flue pipes, electrical meter boards and old switchboards
- pipe lagging and insulation, which may be friable
What Victorian rules require
Victoria's occupational health and safety regulations place the obligation on the person demolishing the building: identify asbestos likely to be disturbed (or presume it is present) and arrange removal before demolition. The licensing thresholds are:
- Up to 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos may be removed without a licence, provided it is done safely and within strict time limits. That suits a small, contained area, not a whole building.
- More than 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos requires licensed asbestos removal (Class A or Class B).
- Any friable asbestos, such as lagging or badly damaged material, requires a Class A licensed removalist.
Licensed removalists must notify WorkSafe Victoria before licensed removal work begins. WorkSafe publishes the notification requirements on its website.
Order of works
- Survey and sampling. Suspect materials in every structure in the scope are sampled and identified.
- Removal scope. A written scope listing each area, material type and approximate quantity.
- Notification and set-up. WorkSafe notification, exclusion zones, signage and sheeting as needed.
- Removal. Wetting, careful handling, and wrapping of waste.
- Disposal. Transport to a facility licensed to receive asbestos waste, with records kept.
- Clearance. Inspection by a competent independent person and, where needed, air monitoring, followed by a written clearance certificate.
- Demolition. The structure comes down only after clearance.
One contractor or two?
Some demolition businesses hold an asbestos licence and handle everything. Others engage a licensed asbestos removalist. Either approach can work. What matters is that the quote shows asbestos as a clearly defined line item, names the licence holder, and explains what happens if more asbestos turns up once linings are removed. That last point is where costs most often change.
Neighbours, fences and shared structures
Fibro fences and shared garages are common in older streets. If a boundary fence or shared structure contains asbestos, talk to your neighbour early and agree in writing who pays and how the work will be done. Exclusion zones may affect a neighbour's yard for a short time.
Cost guidance
Published 2026 guides suggest asbestos removal for a whole house can add roughly $5,000 to $30,000, with friable material at the upper end. A small asbestos shed or garage is often quoted at about $2,500 to $6,000. These are budgeting ranges from published guides, not quotes. See the demolition cost guide.
Keep the paperwork
Keep the asbestos survey, the removal scope, the disposal records and the clearance certificate. Your builder, a buyer or a future owner may ask for them, and they are the best evidence the work was done properly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an asbestos survey before demolishing in Geelong?
The demolisher must identify asbestos or presume it is present. A survey with sampling is the usual way to do that, and it lets the removal be quoted accurately.
Can I remove fibro myself before the demolisher arrives?
Small quantities of non-friable asbestos can legally be removed by a homeowner with the right precautions, but anything over 10 square metres or anything friable needs licensed asbestos removal. Most people find it simpler and safer to have it included in the professional scope.
What is a clearance certificate?
A written statement, after inspection by a competent independent person, that the removal area is safe for demolition or reoccupation to continue.
Where does asbestos waste go?
To a site licensed to accept it. The removalist arranges transport and keeps the records.
What if more asbestos is found during demolition?
Work in that area should stop, the material should be assessed, and licensed removal carried out before demolition resumes. Ask how each quote prices this situation.
Does an asbestos roof change the cost much?
It can, because roof sheeting is often a large area and needs safe access at height. It is one of the main reasons asbestos quotes vary.
Next step
Tell us the building's age, what you suspect is asbestos, and whether testing has been done. With your consent, we will refer you to a registered demolisher who works with licensed asbestos removal in the Geelong region. Request a referral.