Three Additional Melbourne Parks Found to Contain Asbestos
Following the discovery of traces of asbestos, three more parks in Melbourne have been closed, bringing the total number of affected parks to five.
The Hobsons Bay City Council announced the closure of Crofts Reserve, Hosken Reserve, and Lynch Reserve in Altona North on April 5 after confirming the presence of asbestos-containing material.
Testing was initiated after asbestos fragments were found mixed with mulch in Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood.
Remediation works will be conducted at all affected sites with the assistance of a material hygienist and the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria.
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No asbestos was found in mulch supplied by the producer at the reserves except for Donald McLean Reserve where illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste led to asbestos contamination.
Other parks with mulch from the same source were cleared of asbestos traces, affirming that the issue was localized to Donald McLean Reserve.
The Hobsons Bay City Council conducts regular safety audits on playgrounds, ensuring public safety.
Additionally, contaminated soil was identified at Hosken Reserve in Coburg North during upgrades, with removal scheduled to be completed by May 31.
The reserve has been closed to the public since January and all asbestos found on site is considered non-friable, posing minimal risk to the community.
Authorities in South Australia and Tasmania are also conducting inspections of mulch producers to prevent similar incidents in their regions.
