Conjola Park residents are still waiting for word of when the massive clean-up will begin, more than six weeks since a monster fire changed their lives forever.
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Fences line the perimeters of some properties razed on New Year's Eve with asbestos warning labels tied to many. The only children's playground is fenced off and some school children hop off their bus less than 50 metres away from rubble.
Shoalhaven City Council and Public Works Advisory have conducted air, sea and water testing of airborne asbestos fibre levels in bushfire-affected areas since late December. Council and Public Works Advisory have advised residents the air quality at Conjola Park is good.
Testing sites included impacted streets like Kurrajong Crescent, Coolibah Avenue, the Quarterdeck and Sandra Street.
"Recent air quality testing results were below the detection limit of 0.01 fibres/mL, with counts not considered significantly above that of the background. These results are from one-off testing, which was supported by the PVA spraying of identified sites," a council spokesperson said in a statement.
Recent rainfall has soaked a lot of sites and helped to ease concerns, but fears still remain.
"The [biggest] concern is [still] airborne dust," resident Shane Allen said.
Mr Allen, who was one of the many who came face-to-face with the terrifying blaze on New Year's Eve, said some residents felt forgotten because there was a lack of communication about the clean-up.
"Speaking to public works, no one can say to us when [the clean-up will begin]. We're in the middle of February now."
The Federal and NSW Governments have agreed to cover the clean-up costs to remove hazardous materials, including asbestos, and damaged materials at no cost to owners.
Laing O'Rourke Australia has been appointed as the managing contractor. The NSW Government is asking owners of destroyed properties to register for the clean-up through Service NSW. The contractor will then meet contact property owners, discuss options and also plan to meet on-site.
Registering, after having to do so at evacuation and relief centres, and with other agencies, is another hurdle slowing the rebuild.
"People are frustrated to bits.
"Wouldn't it be better to start at the top of the street and go to the bottom."
Those still living in the suburb also want to know what will happen during the clean-up, he said.
"Us as residents have no idea where it is at. Another concern we have is can we stay?
"Communication is non-existent. It's time to clean up so people can focus on rebuilding."
Mayor Amanda Findley relayed Conjola Park residents' concerns to National Bushfire Recovery Coordinator Andrew Colvin, NSW bushfire recovery boss Mick Willing and Commander of the ADF's NSW Joint Task Force Brigadier Mick Garraway, during their visit to Ulladulla on Friday.
Some Conjola Park and residents along Woodburn and Wheelbarrow Roads have been ready for more than two weeks.
"I expressed how urgent it was to get on with the clean up," she said.
Cr Findley said the process for property owners with damaged homes had "a lot of duplication" that could have been avoided by the State Government.
"The clean-up debacle doesn't need to happen.
"What they seem to be arguing about is the amount of waste and money. It doesn't have to have a perfect answer.
"If they're [state government] worried about money, say to the head contractors 'we'll give you this in the first instance'.
"The job just needs to be done. They don't need to be second guessing it."