Hannah Hammoud
The Environmental Protection Authority is investigating whether mulch at Fitzgerald Square Reserve, Sunshine West, is contaminated with asbestos.
EPA officers were onsite on April 9, at the Callaway Boulevard reserve investigating, with samples taken for priority testing.
EPA Victoria said it is continuing to investigate sources of mulch delivered to parks and reserves where possible traces of asbestos have been reported.
It is one of three new sites the EPA has released as having potential contamination, following a number of reports of asbestos in parks in Hobsons Bay and Merri-Bek. Dennis Reserve, Williamstown and Altona Coastal Park are the other two new sites awaiting test results.
Crofts Reserve, Hosken Reserve and Lynch Reserve, all in Altona North, as well as Burns Reserve, Altona, Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood and Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South have all been confirmed as sites with asbestos.
Brimbank council infrastructure and city services acting director Tom Razmovski said community safety is council’s priority.
“… Council will continue to monitor and inspect its parks and reserves, and act quickly to ensure public safety if any contaminated material is found,” he said.
“We await information from the EPA and will cooperate with their instructions and implement any actions as directed.”
Mr Razmovski said in addition to council’s regular inspections it also carried out visual inspections at select council sites including Green Gully Reserve and The Lakes Reserve.
Mr Razmovski said no evidence of foreign substances has been found in the mulch at these sites.
“We primarily use tree chipper mulch in our parks and reserves, made from Brimbank trees that have been pruned, removed, or damaged as a result of storms. These trees are collected and chipped on site and then stored at our depot for crew to pick up and use in parks,” he said.
“Most of the mulch used at council sites is supplied by council, only a small portion of mulch used in our parks and gardens is supplied by contractors.”
EPA Victoria said it is receiving a lot of information and inquiries from community, including related to residential properties, which will be managed through normal business processes.
Updates to community on potential asbestos in parks and reserves will be ongoing as the situation evolves.
