Image: Rozelle Parklands has been closed to the public following the discovery of asbestos in the playground. Bianca de Marchi, AAP Images
by GRACE JOHNSON
Following the discovery of more asbestos in the playground of the newly opened Rozelle Parklands, a Sydney mayor is saying the Rozelle Interchange contractors have failed to deliver a safe and functional park.
The park has been closed since Wednesday and remains closed to the public as contamination experts analyse samples of mulch across the site.
Initial analyses of two samples were positive for bonded asbestos, which is often mixed with cement and thought to be low risk because it is non-friable (unless damaged or old).
Friable asbestos is deemed high risk because it can be crumbled into a powder by hand.
According to a statement by Transport NSW, a further three samples out of 34 have returned positive results for traces of asbestos.
The asbestos was reportedly discovered after a small child brought home some mulch from the playground. Their parent then called Transport for NSW to report the findings.
Expert advice has indicated that the contamination is low risk.
But Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne is calling for a total removal of all mulch and its complete replacement with organic, verifiably safe material.
“There’s no room for error or excuses – all of the mulch must be removed from the park without delay,” he said.
He pointed to the John Holland CPB Joint Venture, builders of the Rozelle Interchange, saying they “were paid enormous amounts of public money to deliver a safe and functional park for our community which they have manifestly failed to do.”
“These contractors have a responsibility to fix this mess, remediate the Parklands, and reopen it safely for the community.”
Transport for NSW together with contractor John Holland CPB Joint Venture are currently working on plans to safely remove and replace the affected recycled mulch.
Questions are rising around how the asbestos got into the mulch to begin with, but the mayor insists it is the responsibility of the contractors and Transport for NSW to fix this problem.
Mayor Byrne said, “The Environmental Protection Authority is investigating how this could have occurred. While we await the findings of that investigation, there’s no time to waste in removing all potentially contaminated material from the Parklands.”
Locals are reportedly “flabbergasted” that the long-awaited park, promised as compensation for Westconnex construction impacts, has been opened while contaminated with asbestos.
