Inspections are taking place at Westmead Christian Grammar in Westmead, St Luke’s Catholic College in Marsden Park, Penrith Christian School in Orchard Hills, Mt Annan Christian College in Mt Annan, St John of God Hospital in North Richmond, Woolworths in Kellyville and a Transport for NSW park area at Wiley Park.
The EPA said it is providing this advice to keep everyone concerned abreast of developments particularly parents and students at those schools and the public connected to those sites so they can keep their communities safe.
St Luke’s Catholic College in Marsden Park have been closed this Friday while those schools that remained open are advised to keep students and staff away from garden beds and around the site.
This development comes as the EPA have confirmed there are 24 sites across Sydney that have returned positive results for bonded asbestos since the discovery at Rozelle Parklands and other Sydney sites.
Asbestos testing has also started this Friday at Allambie Heights Public School in Allambie Heights, International Grammar School in Ultimo and North Sydney Public School in North Sydney.
The NSW Health has advised the asbestos initially found were “low risk to public health, and one site for friable asbestos.”
EPA testing officers are on the ground, and they are under supervision of the NSW Government Asbestos Taskforce which includes experts from NSW Health and NSW Department of Education.
These schools and sites in Western Sydney have been identified as having mulch from the same manufacturer that has supplied mulch to the 25 other sites that tested positive for bonded asbestos, the EPA said.
All landowners around the identified sites have been advised to put in place measures to prevent anyone accessing their site and to begin removal of the contaminated mulch.
Once testing results are finalised, the EPA will advise what further actions can be taken, but parents of students in identified schools are advised to contact their school directly for updates on the situation.
All positive sites will be updated on the EPA website by visiting, https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/community-engagement/updates-on-issues/rozelle-parkland-asbestos-investigation
For more information on asbestos investigation or to report concerns to contact EPA Environment Line on 131 555 or info@epa.nsw.gov.au.
