Urgent: Asbestos spreads in schools and ALDI supermarket
By
Seia Ibanez
- Replies 22
The peaceful daily routines of Sydney residents and businesses were disrupted by the discovery of asbestos at various sites, including schools, parks, and an ALDI supermarket.
With this finding, a light has been cast on the increasing number of places across Sydney grappling with asbestos contamination—underlining the importance of awareness and safety in the community.
The contamination has been traced back to recycled mulch spread across these sites.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) crews have inspected over 120 sites identified by the agency, with more than 90 per cent of the potentially contaminated mulch tested.
Among the affected sites is Domremy College at Five Dock in Sydney's inner-west, which became the fifth school to confirm asbestos contamination.
While the college remains open, the contaminated site has been isolated and cordoned off.
Results are still pending for three other schools in southwest Sydney: Edmondson Park Public School, Mount Annan Christian College at Currans Hill, and Trinity Catholic Primary School at Kemps Creek.
‘We understand this may be unsettling for these school communities, but these results are expected later today,' NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said in a statement on Monday, 19 February.
In western Sydney, St Luke's Catholic College in Marsden Park decided to close this week due to asbestos findings.
Meanwhile, Penrith Christian School in Orchard Hills remains open but has already fenced off the contaminated area.
Liverpool West is still closed, while students are offered in-person learning at nearby Gulyangarri Public School. Murat Dizdar, the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, had a scheduled visit to Gulyangarri Public School on Monday, 19 February.
In a concerning development, an ALDI supermarket at Cobbitty, southwest of Sydney, has also been identified as a contaminated site.
The supermarket will reopen once the contaminated site has been contained.
Asbestos has also been confirmed at three other undisclosed sites, which the NSW EPA has not revealed for privacy reasons, stating they are not publicly accessible.
‘We're getting towards the end, so I don't want people to think this is never-ending,' Premier Chris Minns said.
The government is now considering potential increases in fines for companies found to be responsible for the contamination.
'We'll get the systems in place to make sure that if there [are] penalties imposed, it's not just the cost of doing business for these big companies,’ he added.
![Asbestos danger zone.jpg Asbestos danger zone.jpg](https://seniorsdiscountclub.com.au/data/attachments/41/41517-eb48be4c139a2e89a59fdc0df56dc7fb.jpg)
Certain areas of Sydney Olympic Park are undergoing re-testing in preparation for a busy weekend of concerts in the entertainment precinct.
The premier assured that this re-testing should not endanger the upcoming events, especially Taylor Swift's shows in the coming days.
The EPA is currently investigating a complicated supply chain to determine how the mulch became contaminated.
The EPA previously reported that all of the contaminated mulch was reportedly supplied by Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility (GRRF). It stated that this is ‘the largest investigation the Environment Protection Authority has undertaken in recent decades’.
EPA Chief Executive Tony Chappel has assured the public that a full report will be available once the investigation concludes.
The agency had been required to disclose a notice issued to Greenlife that they prevent supplying more mulch, which they are currently following, Chappel explained.
However, the company is fighting against the prevention order in court.
Greenlife’s mulch is independently tested by trusted laboratories, and they're sure the facility is free of contamination when it leaves their place, according to a statement they released on Wednesday, 14 February.
Asbestos is responsible for approximately 4,000 deaths each year from cancer and other asbestos-related diseases—three times the national road toll.
It's crucial for homeowners and do-it-yourself renovators to be aware of the health risks associated with this hazardous material.
In a previous story, authorities warned homeowners to inspect homes built before 1990 for asbestos before renovation. You can read more about it here.
Have you had any experiences with asbestos in your home or community? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
With this finding, a light has been cast on the increasing number of places across Sydney grappling with asbestos contamination—underlining the importance of awareness and safety in the community.
The contamination has been traced back to recycled mulch spread across these sites.
Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) crews have inspected over 120 sites identified by the agency, with more than 90 per cent of the potentially contaminated mulch tested.
Among the affected sites is Domremy College at Five Dock in Sydney's inner-west, which became the fifth school to confirm asbestos contamination.
While the college remains open, the contaminated site has been isolated and cordoned off.
Results are still pending for three other schools in southwest Sydney: Edmondson Park Public School, Mount Annan Christian College at Currans Hill, and Trinity Catholic Primary School at Kemps Creek.
‘We understand this may be unsettling for these school communities, but these results are expected later today,' NSW Environment Protection Agency (EPA) said in a statement on Monday, 19 February.
In western Sydney, St Luke's Catholic College in Marsden Park decided to close this week due to asbestos findings.
Meanwhile, Penrith Christian School in Orchard Hills remains open but has already fenced off the contaminated area.
Liverpool West is still closed, while students are offered in-person learning at nearby Gulyangarri Public School. Murat Dizdar, the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, had a scheduled visit to Gulyangarri Public School on Monday, 19 February.
In a concerning development, an ALDI supermarket at Cobbitty, southwest of Sydney, has also been identified as a contaminated site.
The supermarket will reopen once the contaminated site has been contained.
Asbestos has also been confirmed at three other undisclosed sites, which the NSW EPA has not revealed for privacy reasons, stating they are not publicly accessible.
‘We're getting towards the end, so I don't want people to think this is never-ending,' Premier Chris Minns said.
The government is now considering potential increases in fines for companies found to be responsible for the contamination.
'We'll get the systems in place to make sure that if there [are] penalties imposed, it's not just the cost of doing business for these big companies,’ he added.
![Asbestos danger zone.jpg Asbestos danger zone.jpg](https://seniorsdiscountclub.com.au/data/attachments/41/41517-eb48be4c139a2e89a59fdc0df56dc7fb.jpg)
Certain areas of Sydney Olympic Park are undergoing re-testing in preparation for a busy weekend of concerts in the entertainment precinct.
The premier assured that this re-testing should not endanger the upcoming events, especially Taylor Swift's shows in the coming days.
The EPA is currently investigating a complicated supply chain to determine how the mulch became contaminated.
The EPA previously reported that all of the contaminated mulch was reportedly supplied by Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility (GRRF). It stated that this is ‘the largest investigation the Environment Protection Authority has undertaken in recent decades’.
EPA Chief Executive Tony Chappel has assured the public that a full report will be available once the investigation concludes.
The agency had been required to disclose a notice issued to Greenlife that they prevent supplying more mulch, which they are currently following, Chappel explained.
However, the company is fighting against the prevention order in court.
Greenlife’s mulch is independently tested by trusted laboratories, and they're sure the facility is free of contamination when it leaves their place, according to a statement they released on Wednesday, 14 February.
Asbestos is responsible for approximately 4,000 deaths each year from cancer and other asbestos-related diseases—three times the national road toll.
It's crucial for homeowners and do-it-yourself renovators to be aware of the health risks associated with this hazardous material.
In a previous story, authorities warned homeowners to inspect homes built before 1990 for asbestos before renovation. You can read more about it here.
Key Takeaways
- Asbestos has been confirmed at multiple sites across Sydney, including schools and an ALDI supermarket, with some locations being closed or sections cordoned off.
- The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is conducting an investigation into how recycled mulch became contaminated with asbestos and has taken action against Greenlife Resource Recovery.
- Over 40 sites, encompassing schools, hospitals, and parks, have been found to be contaminated with asbestos in the mulch, and the government is looking at increasing fines for such offences.
- Testing and containment efforts continue, focusing on ensuring public safety and concluding the investigation, which will result in a full public report.
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