Jennifer Pittorino
The total number of asbestos-affected sites in Hobsons Bay has been finalised at 14 sites, following the confirmation of contamination at a further five sites late last week.
The five new sites mark the end of Hobsons Bay council’s current assessment of parks and reserves that have received recycled mulch.
The five new sites are Buffer Mound in Altona, Grieve Parade and Kororoit Creek Reserve in Altona North, Newport Lakes Reserve in Newport and Truganina Park in Altona Meadows.
The other asbestos-affected sites are: Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood; Crofts Reserve, Altona North; Altona Coastal Park; Hosken Reserve, Altona North; PJ Lynch Reserve, Altona North; Federation Trail, Brooklyn (managed by the Department of Transport and Planning); Laverton Creek at the rear of AB Shaw Reserve; Doug Grant Reserve, Altona; and PA Burns Reserve, Altona.
Of the 21 sites inspected, seven have been cleared as being free of asbestos.
Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Hobsons Bay council have determined the likely source of contamination at all but two of the 14 affected parks as being historic dumping or legacy in situ contamination.
The EPA said it will continue to investigate the sources of the contamination in two sites: Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood, and Kororoit Creek Reserve, Altona North.
Hobsons Bay council’s mulch supply chain will also be forensically examined by the EPA, focusing on contamination risk controls of those involved in transporting, handling and laying mulch.
EPA said its inspection of three mulch producers that supplied Hobsons Bay council parks showed they have appropriate controls to prevent contamination in the end product.
An additional eight sites were cleared of asbestos contamination following testing by the EPA. They are: Laverton Creek estuary; HD Graham Reserve car park and mounds, Altona Meadows; AB Shaw Reserve, Altona Meadows; Rifle Range Arboretum, Williamstown; The Pines Scout Camp, Altona; RJ Long Reserve, Williamstown North; Armstrong Reserve, Newport; and DOW Chemicals, Altona.
