Asbestos investigation updates 22 February

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) investigation into asbestos contaminated mulch has returned positive results for seven sites in the past day, and negative results for three sites.

The total number of positive sites is 54.

One of the new sites is a garden bed, along the Rozelle Interchange, located between Callan St and Springside St at the Iron Cove Bridge. It has tested positive to friable asbestos. Transport for NSW has fenced off the site. Removal of mulch in the area has begun and is expected to take several nights.

Six sites returned positive results for bonded asbestos:

  • Children’s Hospital, Westmead (construction site, no public access and fenced off)
  • Bicentennial Park 2 (between Chapman Road and Johnstons Creek), Glebe (affected areas fenced off and signs installed)
  • Jubilee Park, Glebe (affected areas fenced off and signs installed)
  • Mont Saint Quentin Oval, Bardia (site fenced off)
  • Observatory Hill Park, Millers Point (affected areas fenced off and signs installed)
  • Oran Park Fire Station, Oran Park (site secured, remediation underway)

Testing at these sites has been done by the EPA, councils and property owners. The EPA will work closely with them to provide advice around remediation.

Three sites have returned negative results following precautionary testing:

  • St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park
  • St Justin’s Catholic Primary School, Oran Park
  • Sutherland Hospital

These results are in addition to the 798 negative results tested by the EPA since January 10.

Precautionary testing is underway at a number of sites across NSW, including the South Coast, Central Coast, Central West, and Hilltops region.

For the latest information please, visit our website.

Different forms of asbestos have different risk levels:

Bonded (non-friable) asbestos: if asbestos is mixed with cement or other hard bonding materials, and in good condition, it is likely to be low risk. 

Friable asbestos: can be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to a powder by hand pressure. If asbestos fibers then become airborne and breathed in, they can be a health risk. This is the most common way asbestos enters the body. The more fibers that are breathed in, the higher the risk. 

Asbestos investigation schools list

Bonded asbestos detected in mulch

  • Allambie Heights Public School, Allambie Heights (school open, small, isolated garden fenced off. Remediation works scheduled for this weekend)
  • Domremy College, Five Dock (school open, isolated site, fenced off and remediation this weekend)
  • Liverpool West Public School, Liverpool (school open at different site)
  • Penrith Christian School, Orchard Hills (school open, site fenced off)
  • St Luke’s Catholic College, Marsden Park yes

No bonded or friable asbestos detected in mulch

  • Edmondson Park Public School, Edmondson Park
  • International Grammar School, Ultimo
  • Mount Annan Christian College, Currans Hill
  • North Sydney Public School, Waverton
  • St Benedict’s Catholic College, Oran Park
  • St Justin’s Catholic Parish Primary School, Oran Park
  • St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Daceyville
  • Trinity Catholic Primary School, Kemps Creek
  • Westmead Christian Grammar School, Westmead

 

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