More mulch contaminated with asbestos has been found in three parks in Sydney’s CBD. A primary school in the city's southwest was shut down yesterday and remains closed while authorities remove contaminated mulch from its grounds.
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00:00 After conducting supply chain investigations, the NSW Environment Authority advised the
00:06 City of Sydney that it could have asbestos contaminated mulch at several of its parks.
00:12 The Council then tested mulch at several parks across the city and found that Harmony Park
00:17 here in Surrey Hills, Belmore Park and Victoria Park were all found to have asbestos contaminated
00:23 mulch.
00:24 The site of particular concern is here at Harmony Park in Surrey Hills as friable asbestos
00:30 was detected in the mulch here.
00:33 Friable asbestos is of higher risk as it's found in airborne particles compared to bonded
00:38 asbestos which we've seen at other locations throughout this whole asbestos saga.
00:44 All sites have been fenced off and temporarily closed while authorities remove the contaminated
00:48 mulch.
00:49 Meanwhile, at Liverpool West Public School, the campus remains closed after mulch was
00:53 found in a garden bed in a playground.
00:56 Students will learn from home until that mulch is removed and campus is safe to return to.
01:01 Now more than a dozen sites, including Campbelltown Hospital, have now been linked to mulch supplied
01:06 by one company, although that company says its mulch has been asbestos free upon delivery
01:12 to those sites.
01:14 The State's Environment Watchdog is conducting investigations and they will have to be completed
01:18 before any charges are laid.
01:21 New South Wales Premier Chris Mins says that is a possibility.
01:25 Clearly this is completely unacceptable and the government is currently investigating
01:30 certain actions that we will take in the weeks ahead.
01:33 Firstly, to raise the fines that are imposed on companies that do the wrong thing.
01:38 The Cabinet will be looking at that in the next couple of weeks.
01:42 Secondly, to enforce the orders that have been issued by the EPA against the company
01:47 involved.
01:48 I understand they're being challenged in the court.
01:50 I want to make it clear the EPA will be defending their orders made against that company in
01:58 the New South Wales Court.
02:00 And lastly, taking action, particularly in relation to the site in Sydney CBD.
02:04 As the list of contaminated sites continues to grow, the City of Sydney says testing will
02:09 continue at several sites across the city.
02:12 [BLANK_AUDIO]