BONDED asbestos fragments have been found on the site of the Coalcliff surf club storage shed.

Wollongong City Council has cordoned the site off to restrict access to the area. The asbestos is not in the surf club or the roadway leading to the club house.

Council is engaging an environmental hygienist to investigate the site and this person will prepare a remediation plan. In the meantime Council asks that all beach goers stay out of the taped off area on the surf club site.

Council said it apologises for any inconvenience while it works on remediation of the site.

It is estimated that one in three Australian houses built before 1983 contain a substantial amount of asbestos which has been used in over 3000 products. When asbestos products are maintained in good condition and left undisturbed, the risk posed to your health is insignificant.

There are two types of asbestos – bonded and friable. Asbestos is considered bonded when the fibres are tightly bound together, for example, AC sheeting. When in a good condition, it is unlikely that bonded asbestos fibres will release and endanger your health. Friable asbestos is material that can be crushed by hand when dry and poses the greatest health risk.