Brimbank Park asbestos scare

Up to five hectares of Brimbank Park have been fenced off since February as Parks Victoria continues to investigate the amount of asbestos found in the area.

Parks Victoria Melbourne Region Executive Director Chris Hardman said suspicious material was found in December at the western entrance of the park, on either side of the Taylors Creek access trail.

A section of land, between three and five hectares, between Green Gully Road and Kulin Wetlands was fenced off in February after the scattered fragments were identified as broken asbestos cement sheeting.

He said Parks Victoria still unsure how the “lower risk” sheeting got there or how much was scattered throughout the fenced off area.

“In the past there have been instances of rubbish dumping at the park, however this has been mainly household and landscape rubbish,” he said.

“It’s difficult to estimate the quantity of asbestos, as it is scattered.

“Air monitoring has been conducted at the site, and has shown no elevated airborne fibre readings.

“Parks Victoria are working to have the clean up occur as safely and as quickly as possible.

“Visitors are asked to avoid the closed area and to use other parts of the park until further notice.”