Red powder mailed to Western Bay District Council with a threatening note sparked an emergency response yesterday morning.
Two staff members were working at the information services section of the council's head office on Cameron Rd yesterday morning when they opened an envelope sent through the mail containing red powder and a threatening note.
Council spokesman Peter Hennessey said the staff called emergency services, left the envelope and were evacuated.
That part of the building was sealed off while the rest of the council building remained open. As a further precaution the area where the suspect piece of mail was opened was quarantined for 24 hours.
Mr Hennessey said the council expected the all clear or otherwise from agencies involved with analysing the material by early today.