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.

More sites in NSW have been found to be contaminated with asbestos. Credit: Freepik

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.



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.

Have you had any experiences with asbestos in your home or community? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

 

[Robbo3006]

Once again on this site a made up story. Parliament DOES NOT set the pay structure, it is done by an independent Statutory Authority. IF you CAN name the bill then put it up. Otherwise stop listening to those voices you're hearing in your head.

So you don't think there's any input from politicians about their pay, stop listening to the voices of multiple personalities in your head. Trolling jerk.

 

[Joydie]

I'm guessing you're true to you beliefs and have full private health and don't ever claim medicare or ANY form of welfare.

Oh Alan. I'm not absolutely sure how you're conflating my health insurance status with my views on government control of the populace, but allow me to set your mind at rest. Not one day of my 78 years has been spent uninsured healthwise. Never let it be said that I bludge on our appallingly underfunded health system. My husband and I have top cover health insurance for hospital and extras.

Now Alan, I have a funny feeling that you've made the same mistake many people make about the money spent by governments. This is not government money. Governments have no money. The money allocated to welfare is money given to the government by the taxpayer. It's my money, it's your money. Lest you think, 'Aha, she's too old to be working, she doesn't pay tax!', we all pay tax in the form of GST.

Now, unlike those hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of people who've never worked a day in their lives, I worked for 42 years, mostly full time, in healthcare, and retired at 66. My husband worked for 41 years, most of those years as a firefighter, so we contributed plenty of money to the government coffers over the years, never taking one cent of welfare, both of us paying tax and working in careers caring for others at a bad time in their lives. So we contributed to our country in two ways. Not only that, but we raised a son to be a highly paid worker who pays more income tax than we take in pensions. It's a shame more people weren't like us, isn't it Alan?

If you wish to go through life blindly believing what governments and the mainstream media tell you, that's fine by me. Unlike you, I don't find it necessary to attempt (badly) to belittle others for their opinion.

 

[OzBoz]

Far more dangerous than asbestos is dihydrogen monoxide, which is a hundred times more dangerous. If it gets into your lungs, you will die in minutes without treatment.It is very very quick to kill.

Maybe then we should be contemplating banning it, and removing it wherever we find it.