Our parks asbestos free
Council says no traces found in mulch used in reserves
Geelong council is continuing to monitor mulch at local playgrounds after traces of asbestos were found at multiple parks across Melbourne, forcing them to close.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating after asbestos was found at six playgrounds in Melbourne’s southwest.
A number of suspected parks and reserves are currently being tested by the state’s environment watchdog.
City of Greater Geelong city infrastructure executive director James Stirton said no traces of asbestos had been found in mulch and playground supplies used at local parks.
“In light of the issues faced by some councils, our crews have been instructed to look out for any suspected contamination when working in reserves,” he said.
Mr Stirton said a majority of mulch used at parks and reserves in Geelong was produced from chipping trees and branches removed by council.
“The playground mulch from our approved supplier does not use any recycled materials, meets Australian Standards, is inspected by our staff before use and is regularly tested for compliance,” he said.
“When contractors purchase mulch for project works, (Geelong council) inspects the mulch after the project’s completion to ensure it is free
from contamination.”
EPA state agency commander Dan Hunt said “small, light pieces of bonded asbestos” were found at playgrounds across Melbourne.
“(It) appears to either have already been present with mulch laid over the top of it, or it has been tracked on to parks via some other means like dumping and littering, or washed in by heavy rains and weather,” he said.
The state’s opposition is calling for an asbestos taskforce to be set up to assist the EPA’s investigation.
Opposition environment spokesman James Newbury said: “The Minister for the Environment must still be on holiday. He must cut his twoweek holiday short and urgently approve calls for a broad audit of public land.”
“Asbestos is dangerous and every day we learn of newly confirmed sites where it is in parks near children,” he said.
But Premier Jacinta Allan defended the EPA’s ability to investigate the contamination.
“There are already significant resources and powers that the EPA and also Sustainability Victoria has in terms of handling asbestos in our community,” she said.
“I understand this is an incredibly important issue for the community to know that the removal of asbestos from building sites is done in a safe and responsible manner.
“The EPA have the tools and resources that they need.”
It comes after asbestos was found at the site of a multimillion-dollar housing development in Queenscliff.
Residents were outraged to discover the dangerous fibres could have been drifting into their homes and backyards.