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Playrope Aqua-Fun, are the Australian & New Zealand exclusive distributors for Vortex Aquatic Structures International, the world leader in aquatic playgrounds and urban water landscapes.…
read moreFollowing test results received on 12th February that confirmed findings of asbestos contaminated mulch in three City parks, the City of Sydney will begin testing another 32 parks where they believe a contaminated mulch product may have been used.
The results identified bonded asbestos in mulch at Victoria Park and Belmore Park. Friable asbestos was found in mulch at Harmony Park in Surry Hills.
City staff closed Harmony Park to the public while the contaminated mulch is cleaned up. Victoria and Belmore parks have had areas sectioned off ahead of being cleaned. This work will be carried out by licensed asbestos removalists.
This follows advice from the EPA that they’d discovered a link to Greenlife Resource Recovery deep in the supply chain of one of the City’s contractors.
The affected areas will be taped off and signs put up informing residents and visitors about the possibility of contamination at the site ahead of inspections being carried out. Council will prioritise inspections at the parks with greater usage and anticipate this to take several weeks.
Council urges everyone to avoid the mulched garden beds and mulched areas under trees at these parks while the inspections are being carried out. The affected mulch is only used in garden beds and under trees, not in park playgrounds.
City of Sydney notes that they “shares the community’s concerns this contaminated product has been supplied to us. Our focus right now is on safety and identifying the sites where there may be contaminated mulch product.”
Parks in Forest Lodge, Ultimo, Glebe, Dawes Point, Pyrmont, Millers Point, Camperdown, Surry Hills and Chippendale will be examined, including the popular Jubilee, Wentworth and Harold Parks.
The New South Wales government also confirmed on Tuesday evening that more asbestos had been found after testing of a garden bed at the Parramatta Light Rail site.
Greenlife – the company that supplied mulch found to be contaminated with asbestos across Sydney, including at a primary school – has launched a legal challenge against the environmental watchdog as it fights to keep selling the product.
The company filed an appeal in the state’s land and environment court against the NSW Environment Protection Authority to challenge the prevention notice issued earlier this month banning it from selling mulch, after bonded asbestos was discovered in recycled garden mulch it supplied for the Rozelle parklands and other state infrastructure projects.
The order prevents Greenlife from moving mulch from its facility in Bringelly in south-western Sydney until the EPA completes its investigation.
If residents have any concerns, NSW Health has more details about asbestos and health risks.
NSW Premier, Chris Minns, has vowed to crack down on operators who had been found to have done “the wrong thing”, announcing he would take a proposal for increased fines to cabinet.
He said the discovery of asbestos in parks, schools and hospitals over the past month was “completely unacceptable”.
The full list of parks within the City of Sydney that will be tested in the coming weeks:
Arcadia Park, Forest Lodge
AV Henry Reserve, Forest Lodge
Bicentennial Park 1, Glebe
Bicentennial Park 2, Glebe
Blackwattle Bay Park, Glebe
Chippendale Green, Chippendale
Clyne Reserve, Millers Point
Cook & Phillip Park, Sydney
Creek Street Reserve, Forest Lodge
Dr H J Foley Rest Park, Glebe
Frog Hollow Reserve, Surry Hills
Giba Park, Pyrmont
Harold Park, Forest Lodge
James Watkinson Reserve, Pyrmont
John Street Reserve, Glebe
Jubilee Park, Glebe
Larkin Street Park, Camperdown
Minogue Reserve, Glebe
Munn Reserve, Millers Point
Observatory Hill Park, Millers Point
Orphan School Creek, Forest Lodge
Paradise Reserve, Pyrmont
Pirrama Park, Pyrmont
Pottinger Park West, Dawes Point
Quarry St Streetscape & Steps, Ultimo
Robyn Kemmis Reserve, Glebe
Seamer Street Reserve, Glebe
St James Park, Glebe
Stewart Street Glebe Reserve, Glebe
Toxteth Park, Glebe
Wentworth Park, Ultimo
Wood Street Playground, Forest Lodge
10th January 2024 - Mulch containing asbestos found near children’s playground at Rozelle parklands
15th December 2023 - Next steps for Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park after asbestos found in soil
14th May 2023 - Wollongong city Council temporarily closes Helensburgh Mountain Bike Park following asbestos concerns
28th October 2014 - Subiaco recreation centre to reopen after asbestos scare
23rd May 2013 - AIS Aquatic Centre closes for upgrades and asbestos removal
29th December 2011 - Asbestos claim to delay MCA reopening?
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