🌿 Asbestos Fragments Found Along Glendowie Foreshore – Let’s Work Together to Keep Our Community Safe 🌿
Over recent years, asbestos-containing material (ACM) has been confirmed at numerous locations along the Glendowie and Tāmaki Estuary foreshore, including Roberta Reserve, Anderson’s Bay, and Karaka Bay.
Since late 2021, several hundred kilograms of wet ACM fragments have been removed from the Glendowie coastline. Subsequent cleanups have removed similarly significant amounts, with one local resident confirmed to have collected more than 1,200 ACM pieces from the Roberta Reserve foreshore alone in March of this year. Unfortunately, fragments continue to be found/seen in large numbers, this is an ongoing issue.
Certified testing has occurred at Karaka Bay, Anderson’s Bay, Roberta Reserve and Panmure Yacht & Boating Club (the Tamaki Estuary Protection Society has undertaken this). Confirmed fragments of white, brown, and even blue asbestos have been identified in the following areas of Glendowie:
👉 Roberta Reserve
👉 Anderson’s Bay
👉 Karaka Bay
While the ACM being found and collected was considered to be non-friable types, published evidence and expert advice confirm that due to weathering, some fragments shown are ‘friable’, meaning there is a risk of releasing asbestos fibres, particularly if disturbed.
Photos taken Tamaki Estuary Coastline Feb-March 2025
No one knows yet where these pieces of ACM are coming from. They may likely come from old fill sites and stormwater runoff, and while efforts have been made to clean them up, new fragments continue to appear — especially after storms and king tides.
Asbestos can pose a health risk if fibres become airborne and are inhaled. It’s not something to panic about, but it is something to treat with care and awareness — especially for families with kids or pets who play on the beach area or near the shoreline.
💡 What can you do?
✔️ If you notice unusual cement-like fragments with a fibrous texture, avoid touching them.
ACM may look like shells, stones, or other natural beach materials. If you’re unsure
about what it is, do not touch or disturb it.
✔️ Report any findings to Auckland Council Report a Problem or by phoning 09 301 0101
✔️ Encourage children and pets to stick to grassy areas rather than digging or playing in the
sand.
✔️ Talk to your local board members and ask what’s being done to manage this issue long-
term.
We know Auckland Council has started some clean-ups — but we believe more can be done to ensure safe, well-managed public spaces for everyone.
This is about caring for our community and coastline together — with transparency, support, and shared responsibility.
Let’s stay informed, stay safe, and keep looking out for one another. 💚
Contact: info@stheliers.org.nz
Writer, Lauren Hawken, Committee Member