Dolphin Sands Bushfire

The Program is being undertaken in two stages. 

Stage one: environmental contamination and waste inspections of impacted properties 

• identify immediate safety risks such as unstable structures, hazardous materials, and unsafe debris 

• specialist testing for and identification of hazardous materials including asbestos, chemicals, and other dangerous substances. This may include soil-testing.  

These assessments are critical to inform a specific clean-up plan for each impacted property.  

This helps protect residents, workers, and the community. 

Stage two: property clean-ups by Batchelor Construction Group 

• Clean-up will be undertaken by contractors, Batchelor Construction Group, in line with each property’s specific clean-up plan.  

Property owners will be contacted for permission before any clean up takes place.  

In early December, approximately 116 properties were identified as being impacted by the bushfire by Tasmania Fire Service. 

pitt&sherry has completed over 80 Environmental Contamination and Waste Inspections of Dolphin Sands properties where they had permission from property owners/residents.  

Following these inspections, pitt&sherry confirmed there were no immediate safety risks identified requiring immediate action.  

pitt&sherry have now provided property owners/residents with an initial report on their own properties. 

Initial reports note fire-damaged and asbestos containing materials on some properties. These materials are low risk but must not be disturbed.  

They are classified as controlled waste under Tasmanian law and must be handled by qualified professionals. 

Air monitoring showed asbestos fibres were below detection limits during inspections, posing low risk as long as the asbestos containing material remain undisturbed.  

Residents and property owners of impacted Dolphin Sands properties who haven't yet spoken with a pitt&sherry representative, or who have questions about the Program are encouraged to call pitt&sherry:

Call: 0482 166 711

Email: engagement@pittsh.com.au.

Factsheets

Dolphin Sands Clean-up Program

TasWater have set up a temporary drinking water station to support the community.

Where: 97 Maria Street, Swansea (next to the Swansea Waste Transfer Station)
What’s available: Safe drinking water for residents
Bring: Your own clean containers for water collection

This station will remain available until further notice.

Emergency Assistance Grants are available to residents impacted by the Southern Tasmania Bushfires, including fire displaced residents of Dolphin Sands.

Emergency Assistance Grants assist people who have been directed or advised to evacuate from their residence and have been displaced or isolated by bushfires, to obtain essential and appropriate shelter, clothing, food, transport and/or personal items.

Grant funds available are:

• $250 per adult (over 18 years);
• $125 per dependent child (under 18 years); and
• a maximum of $1,000 for any one family.

Download this factsheet:

To apply online, visit: Community Grants

The Repair and Restoration Grant is available for people in the bushfire affected area (Dolphin Sands) who have had to evacuate their primary place of residence following the bushfires that started on December 4.  

The Repair and Restoration Grant is available for people in the bushfire affected area (Dolphin Sands) who have had to evacuate their primary place of residence following the bushfires that started on December 4.  

The grant offers up to $11,650 per household who have experienced substantial property damage and meet the following criteria:   

• Are low-income homeowners and occupiers of a principal place of residence in the Dolphin Sands area
• Do not hold liquid assets (cash, bank accounts, shares) over the value of $35,000 (this excludes principal place of residence, vehicles and personal effects)

For more information on eligibility and what the grant can/cannot be used for please download this factsheet:

To find out more and complete an application, go to: Community Grants - Service Tasmania

The Replacement of Household Items Grant is available for people in the bushfire affected area (Dolphin Sands) who have had to evacuate their primary place of residence following the bushfires that started on December 4.

The grant offers up to $11,650 per household for people who have experienced substantial loss of essential personal items and meet the following criteria:

• Are low-income homeowners and occupiers of a principal place of residence in the Dolphin Sands area
• Do not hold liquid assets (cash, bank accounts, shares) over the value of $35,000 (this excludes principal place of residence, vehicles and personal effects).

For more information on eligibility and what the grant can/cannot be used for please download this factsheet:

To find out more and complete an application, go to: Community Grants - Service Tasmania

The Temporary Living Expenses Grant is available for people in the bushfire affected area (Dolphin Sands) who have had to evacuate their primary place of residence following the bushfires that started on December 4.

The grant offers up to $11,650 per household for people who are unable to live in their primary place of residence and who also meet the following criteria:

• Are low-income homeowners and occupiers of a principal place of residence in the Dolphin Sands area.
• Do not hold liquid assets (cash, bank accounts, shares) over the value of $35,000 (this excludes principal place of residence, vehicles and personal effects).

For more information on eligibility and what the grant can/cannot be used for please download this factsheet:

To find out more and complete an application, go to: Community Grants - Service Tasmania

The Essential Services Outage Grant is available for people in the bushfire affected area (Dolphin Sands) who have been affected by prolonged disruptions to essential services such as power, water and sewerage as result of an eligible natural disaster.   

The grant offers up to $250 per adult, $125 per child up to a maximum of $1000 per household.  

Grant applicants must meet the following criteria: 

• Are low-income homeowners and occupiers (the grant is income-tested) in the Dolphin Sands area who experienced essential service disruption for more than 5 days.  
• You have not already received an Emergency Assistance Grant (see further up the page for information about Emergency Assistance Grants)

For more information on eligibility and what the grant can/cannot be used for please download this factsheet:

To find out more and complete an application, go to: Community Grants - Service Tasmania

An Environmental Contamination and Waste Inspection aims to identify immediate safety risks, such as unstable structures, hazardous materials, and unsafe debris. Specialists also test for and identify hazardous materials, including asbestos, chemicals, and other dangerous substances, this may include soil-testing.  

From these assessments, pitt&sherry will develop a specific clean-up plan for each impacted property.  

This assessment helps protect residents, workers, and the community. 

No-one will access your property without your permission.

Environmental scientists and asbestos hygiene specialists from pitt&sherry inspected properties with damaged structures in Dolphin Sands, where owners provided permission.  

The inspections aimed to identify environmental contamination and waste hazards after the recent fire.  

We anticipate that your detailed Environmental Contamination and Waste Inspection report will be provided to you by mid-January.  

It will outline hazards found on your property (eg. Asbestos containing materials) and inform your property-specific clean-up plan.

Inspections were only conducted at properties with owner permission.  

If you gave permission, you’ll receive an initial summary of findings by 24 December 2025. Following further analysis and laboratory results, a detailed inspection report for your individual property will be provided to you by mid-January.  

Burnt structures, vehicles, likely environmental hazards (including asbestos), damaged off-grid battery storage, fuel/chemical storage, and septic systems.  

Trees/vegetation and tank water testing were not included in these inspections. 

Yes. Please contact pitt&sherry to discuss your Dolphin Sands property: 

Call: 0482 166 711 
Email: engagement@pittsh.com.au 

Asbestos containing materials (ACM) and other hazards such as burnt structures, vehicles, off-grid battery storage, fuel and chemical storage, and septic systems. 

Ambient air monitoring showed asbestos fibres were below laboratory detection limits during inspections, posing low risk as long as the asbestos containing material remains undisturbed.  

Exposure is likely only if ashes or remnants of asbestos containing materials are actively disturbed. 

Do not disturb asbestos containing materials.  

Fire-damaged and asbestos containing materials is classified as controlled waste under Tasmanian law and must be handled by qualified professionals.  

During high winds: Stay indoors or wear masks, as wind can disturb ashes. 

Do not walk or drive on your septic system.

Most properties had actual or potential damage to septic systems, but no active leaks or overflow were reported.  

Further assessment by a qualified person is recommended.  

If you notice leaks outside normal overflow, stay clear, maintain hygiene, and report to engagement@pittsh.com.au

Be mindful of possible contamination of tank water.  

Refer to health advisories for guidance on safe use, flushing, and testing after bushfire. 

The Environmental Contamination and Waste Inspections conducted by pitt&sherry confirmed there were no immediate safety risks identified.

Fire-damaged and asbestos containing materials were identified on some properties.

Results from ambient air monitoring for asbestos fibres were below laboratory detection limits during inspections. This means there is a low risk as long as the asbestos containing material remains undisturbed. Appropriate protective equipment should be worn when on site.

The Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPAC) is leading the coordination of the clean-up and demolition of fire-affected properties. This work is supported by Glamorgan Spring Bay Council, the Environment Protection Authority, Department of State Growth, and qualified contractors. 

pitt&sherry have been engaged to undertake Environmental Contamination and Waste Inspections, and Batchelor Construction Group (BCG) for property clean-up.  
 
It will be a combined effort to plan the clean-up in safe and structured way, in the best interests of the community.   

The Dolphin Sands community has been significantly impacted by the recent bushfire which has created a large amount of fire debris and hazardous waste including remnants of buildings, vehicles and other infrastructure.

Support is being provided for impacted property owners by delivering a Clean-up Program, which will safely remove and dispose of hazardous waste.

There will be no cost to property owners or residents for the Dolphin Sands Clean-up Program.   

This assistance has been made under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).  

Risks to public safety, occupation status (eg primary places of residence) and logistical and operational factors (such as availability of specialist resources and equipment) will inform the scheduling of individual property clean-ups.

This scheduling will be coordinated by the State Government, with advice from pitt&sherry and Batchelor Construction Group (BCG).

Clean-up activity is being scheduled through consideration of a number of factors including the risks to public safety, occupation status (eg primary places of residence) and logistical and operational factors (such as availability of specialist resources and equipment).

Some sites may be deemed a higher risk than other sites and require urgent attention. Additionally, the limited availability of specialised asbestos removal contractors may mean that some lower risk sites are treated before all the higher risk sites are treated.

It is therefore important to note that it may take some time before your property clean up commences.

This does not mean your site will not be addressed. If you returned your consent deed to pitt&sherry, your property will be cleaned up as part of the program.

The Clean-up Program will include fire-damaged materials on your property that must be removed to make the site safe. These materials may be identified in the findings from your property assessment and may include: 

• Building materials from residences and sheds; 

• Vehicles (including caravans) 

• Hazardous materials such as Asbestos, batteries, and gas bottles 

• Septic systems  

The Clean-up Program will include removing and disposing of fire-damaged materials on your property to make the site safe. These materials may include:

• All destroyed structures
• Damaged/destroyed vehicles
• Burnt or fire damaged material
• Contaminated or potentially contaminated soils to a depth of 100 mm
• Footings and other underground elements of structures
• Septic tanks and/or waste treatment units

Clean-up will also include the reinstatement of excavated areas and topsoil.

The nature of the clean up is complex. It is anticipated that the clean-up will take 2-3 months to complete, and once works commence, we will have a clearer understanding of timeframes. It may take longer than this.

Timing depends on the Clean-up Program scheduling and individual property clean-

It is important to complete and return your consent deed to pitt&sherry as soon as possible.

Individual property cleanups will be scheduled based on a number of factors including:

• Returned consent deed
• Risks to public safety,
• Occupation status (eg primary places of residence),
• Logistical and operational considerations (such as availability of specialist resources and equipment).

Removal of any vegetation must be undertaken in accordance with all relevant legislation, policies and guidelines.

BCG will remove any fire-impacted trees or organic debris which pose a risk to the property users and/or the works being completed, including:

• Safe ingress/egress for property owners and all personnel involved in the clean up;
• Safe working conditions for all personnel involved in the clean up;
• Other impediments to carrying out clean-up operations.

Fire-impacted trees and organic matter which has been stockpiled by property owners will also be removed and disposed of, if located in an area that is accessible by machinery suitable for this task.

Fire-impacted fencing material including wire and posts will be removed if they have been stockpiled by property owners and located in an area that is accessible by machinery suitable for this task.

Material which will be removed includes:

• All damaged / destroyed structures
• Burnt or fire damaged material (such as water tanks, electricity infrastructure, vehicles, caravans etc)
• Contaminated or potentially contaminated soils to a depth of 100mm
• Footing and other underground structures
• Septic tanks and/or waste treatment units

When completing your consent deed for BCG to access your property, you can state any items you do not want removed.

No. Clean-up will only proceed with resident/property owner permission.  

Yes, you can withdraw your consent at any stage in the clean-up program. No one will access your property without your permission.

Your property may contain hazardous materials such as asbestos, batteries, fuels and chemicals, and damaged septic systems. There will also be heavy machinery moving on the site. These hazards could cause you physical harm which is why you are not allowed on site while the clean up is happening.

Additionally, materials such fire-damaged and asbestos containing materials are classified as controlled waste under Tasmanian law and must be handled by qualified professionals.

Batchelor Construction Group (BCG) has asbestos specialists guiding and undertaking the safe removal of asbestos from each property.

The clean-up program has been created to remove and dispose of hazardous material as a result of the Dolphin Sands Bushfire in December 2025. The program cannot give you any cash.

You will need to work with your insurance company to engage clean up activities.

If you have changed your mind and now want an Environmental Contamination and Waste Inspection, please contact pitt&sherry by mobile on 0482 166 711 or 0488 227 427 or email engagement@pittsh.com.au

There is also financial assistance available to eligible residents impacted by the Dolphin Sands Bushfire. Visit www.alert.tas.gov.au/recovery/dolphin-sands-bushfire for more information, including eligibility criteria.

If you decide to return to your property  

• Protect yourself before entering your property, by wearing  

• long-sleeved clothing eg. disposable overalls 

• a P2 or N95 mask 

• sturdy boots and gloves 

• Avoid disturbing dust and ash 

• Do not access burnt structures 

• Do not attempt clean-up of burnt structures yourself 

• Avoid walking or driving over septic tanks  

• Be mindful of possible water tank contamination 

For information on safely returning to your property, please 

Download this factsheet: Returning Home after a Bushfire 

Visit this website: Returning Home After a Bushfire | Tasmanian Department of Health 

Public Health Services can also be contacted as follows: 
Call: 1800 671 738 
Email: public.health@health.tas.gov.au