Bin deodoriser behind NSW council scares

Two separate NSW council buildings were evacuated after receiving suspicious white powder - later determined to be bin deodoriser - in the mail.

NSW police officers

A suspicious white powder sent to two NSW council buildings has been identified as bin deodoriser. (AAP)

A suspicious white powder which sparked evacuations of two NSW council buildings has reportedly been identified as bin deodoriser.

Four staff at Clarence Valley Council in Grafton were transferred but not admitted to hospital after an employee handled an envelope containing the powder at around 8.30am on Tuesday, a council spokesman told AAP.

Around three hours later, three people were treated by emergency services following a powder scare at a Coffs Harbour City Council building.

Local police said the culprit substance had been sent in sample packets by the manufacturer, APN reports.

Ambulance, police and hazmat personnel attended the Grafton building, with the employees taken to Grafton Base Hospital as a precaution despite appearing to be suffering no ill-effects from the powder.

The Coffs Harbour trio were assessed on the scene but not transported to hospital.

Both offices were allowed to return to work by Tuesday afternoon.

It comes a day after NSW Parliament House was evacuated when a suspicious package was found near the building on Monday.


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Source: AAP


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