Jennifer Pittorino
Hobsons Bay council has closed five additional reserves after testing confirmed the presence of material containing bonded asbestos.
Council announced sections of Crofts Reserve, Hosken Reserve and Lynch Reserve, all in Altona North, will be closed until further notice. On Tuesday the EPA added Dennis Reserve and Altona Coastal Park to the list.
Recycled mulch from these reserves was sent for testing following the recent discovery of asbestos at Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood, which rocked the Hobsons Bay community.
It has been one week since local resident Jason Murphy reported suspicious materials he found in mulch at Donald McLean Reserve on Tuesday, April 2, in the middle of school holidays.
On Sunday, April 7, council received two remedial notices from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria requesting proactive inspections of more parks and gardens.
Council said the conditions of the notices required council to commission a hygienist to inspect all council managed parks and gardens that have received mulch in the past 18 months. This work commenced on Monday, April 8.
“EPA will also review council’s procedures regarding the sourcing and handling of mulch and has requested all reports dating back to July 2021, from council, its staff and contractors regarding asbestos containing materials found in mulch at or around council infrastructure.”
Council said it has provided the EPA with a list of all suppliers used to source mulch, as well as a list of contractors and sub-contractors used from the same time period.
Hobsons Bay council has confirmed the two pieces of material found at Donald McLean Reserve by Mr Murphy were bonded asbestos.
Council said the EPA advised that bonded asbestos is generally made up of a small amount of asbestos fibres that are tightly bound in a product such as resin or cement.
“It is considered low risk for people who are in contact with it, unless it is damaged or badly weathered, resulting in asbestos fibres being released into the air,” council said.
Hobsons Bay council said two pieces of material were found and sent for testing, with results on Wednesday, April 3, confirming these were asbestos containing material (ACM).
The playground was closed on Tuesday while council worked with the hygienist and the EPA to conduct remediation works consistent with a management plan for the site.
“There are two types of mulch used on the reserve – a recycled product around mature tree planting and a virgin soft mulch around the playground,” council said.
“The two pieces of material were found in the recycled product.”
The park opened in April with support from the West Gate Tunnel Project, which provided $5 million in community funding to help improve and upgrade local parks and sporting facilities in the inner west.
As part of this investment, funding was provided to Hobsons Bay council for a brand-new park at Donald McLean Reserve.
A West Gate Tunnel Project spokesperson said, “We are liaising with Hobsons Bay City Council, who oversaw construction of the playground and are leading this investigation.”
An EPA Victoria spokesperson said, “EPA was alerted to possible presence of waste materials including potential asbestos-containing materials in mulch at Donald McLean Reserve through social media reports over the Easter weekend”.
“An inspection revealed the need for further action and we have been in contact with Hobsons Bay council.
“They have taken further action to remove and identify material that does appear to be a small quantity of bonded asbestos pieces.
“Council has also cordoned off an area to ensure community safety. EPA will continue to provide advice to council to assist their clean-up.”
Mulch suspected to contain asbestos or illegal dumping of materials can be reported to Victoria’s EPA contact centre on 1300 372 842 or contact@epa.vic.gov.au
