The NSW government expects to begin selling Holbrook properties where loose-fill asbestos has been removed early next year.
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Eight homes sold to the government under the voluntary purchase program have been demolished and the land remediated.
A NSW Fair Trading spokesman said another 10 houses in the first group of Holbrook demolitions came under option two, where homeowners chose to retain ownership of the land.
“Of the option two properties, three have been returned to the owners while seven are expected to be returned to the owners by the end of the year,” he said.
“The next batch of demolitions to take place in Greater Hume Shire will go to tender in early 2018.”
The first property to be rebuilt, owned by Holbrook couple Jeffrey and Marilyn McPherson, is well under construction.
Thirty-eight Greater Hume properties have tested positive to loose-fill asbestos in the past two years, with the NSW government declaring the shire a hotspot requiring special assistance.
The latest NSW Fair Trading figures showed 1610 tests had been completed in Greater Hume, with 54 still to be finalised.
Greater Hume general manager Steven Pinnuck said the incomplete tests generally related to properties where access to the roof cavity was restricted.
An announcement about the government’s community assistance package is expected next year.
Mr Pinnuck said the council would meet with the affected residents’ support group after that.
“We’re optimistic a significant number of impacted properties will end up receiving the additional assistance,” he said.
