Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National

Drop-in session over Wickham woolshed fire contamination

wickham_10th_alarm (Original)

A drop-in session has been organised for people affected by the Annie Street woolshed fire at Wickham in March.

It will be a chance to ask questions of agencies involved in the clean-up and follows a similar event earlier this month.

The session will be held at Goodlife Church Wickham from 3pm until 6.30pm on May 4.

The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
Rubble after demolition at the Annie Street fire scene. Picture: Simon McCarthy
Picture: Simon McCarthy
Picture: Simon McCarthy
Picture: Simon McCarthy
Picture: Simon McCarthy
Picture: Simon McCarthy
Picture: Simon McCarthy
EPA director of regional operations David Gathercole. Picture: Simon McCarthy
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Matthew Kelly
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Crews cleaning debris from the Annie Street a week after the blaze destroyed two former woolsheds and sent material containing asbestos into nearby neighbourhoods. Picture: Marina Neil
Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
The Wickham wool store ablaze. Picture: Simone De Peak
Residents of the neighbouring area watch on as the former Wickham Wool Store is engulfed in a massive fire. Picture: Simone De Peak
Residents of the neighbouring area watch on as the former Wickham Wool Store is engulfed in a massive fire. Picture: Simone De Peak

The blaze destroyed the four-storey structure, raged within metres of millions of litres of fuel stored on adjacent land and sent debris containing asbestos about 3km north west of the scene.

THE WICKHAM BLAZE:

A NSW Government spokesperson said on Friday more than 350 private properties had been cleaned and cleared of asbestos, as had public roads, paths and parks - except for those in the immediate proximity of the fireground.

About 90 independent cleaning personnel remain in the community removing contaminated debris each day.

The spokesperson said no airborne asbestos had been detected through ongoing monitoring since the fire and longer-term monitoring in the area would be set up.

"Demolition of the fire-affected Wool Store buildings is complete with waste removal in progress," she said.

"Contractors are removing debris from the roof of the remaining Wool Store building on behalf of the building owner."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.