MACLEAY Island residents are a step closer to getting a new car park on top of the asbestos-ridden beach next to the main ferry terminal.
Last week, the State Assessment and Referral Agency approved covering the asbestos-ridden beach with concrete.
The state also imposed conditions, including making Redland City Council the main authority overseeing the entombment.
Tonnes of asbestos and fibro panels were dumped on the Macleay Island foreshore in the late 1970s.
Since a 2009 Safety in Mines Testing and Research Station report found a low-level of contamination, residents have run a campaign to get the council to clean up the toxic mess.
In 2012, council and the state government decided the best way to contain the materials was to cover the 8800sq m site above and below water with concrete.
The concreted area would then be used to extend the existing ferry terminal car park.
The area has been fenced off since 2009, and council applied to two state government departments for a development application to build a car park to cover the asbestos.
Macleay Island Progress Association met with bay island councillor Mark Edwards on the weekend to discuss the way forward.
Many said they were concerned about the lack of progress covering the asbestos after entombment works were put on hold last year when council claimed an underwater Energex cable was stopping the concreting.
Council employed contractor Lambert Locations to find and protect the Energex cable.
Council has committed $6million to rebuild the island's ferry terminal car park and add up to an extra 186 parking bays and a total of 288.
Plans for the ferry terminal also include a recreational boat ramp, which the council had a deed of agreement for funding with the Transport Department.
Under that deal, the State Government would pay $300,000 for the council to build the ramp.
The project was given recent impetus when Redlands MP Matt McEachan raised the seriousness of the issue with deputy Premier Jackie Trad in May and then in parliament.
