Hazardous wasteland sparks $1m clean-up

Huge amounts of hazardous waste, including asbestos, has been dumped at a NSW property, requiring a $1 million clean-up operation.

More than 7000 cubic metres of waste was dumped at a site near Newcastle over a four-month period, NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean said on Monday.

"Storing this amount of waste without a licence is unacceptable and can pose a health and safety risk to the local community and the local environment," Mr Kean said.

An investigation by the Environment Protection Authority has led to a development company being issued a clean-up notice and the waste was secured so as not to pose a risk to the community.

The company has committed to a clean-up that is estimated to cost more than $1 million, plus make a $50,000 contribution to a local wetlands project.