Officers from EPA Victoria are inspecting five parks across two metropolitan councils today, as the investigation into dumped asbestos continues.
Our officers are inspecting parks in Hobsons Bay City Council and Merri-bek Council after reports from the community of asbestos in a small number of local parks.
We are also inspecting the work done by Hobsons Bay City Council to cordon off sections of three Altona North parks, where pieces of asbestos were confirmed just yesterday.
Investigations are continuing into who supplied the mulch to the Altona North parks.
At GJ Hosken Reserve, an off-lead dog area, the council has been unable to supply the name of the mulch producer for this park at this time. EPA understands this mulch was supplied in 2017.
Asbestos fragments have been confirmed at Crofts Reserve. EPA is aware, that Hobsons Bay Council has restricted public access to the area affected while the council and EPA investigations continue.
EPA has determined asbestos fragments found at PJ Lynch Reserve are likely to be the result of illegal waste dumping.
We are satisfied Hobsons Bay City Council, as the land manager, has taken adequate action to protect the local community.
The finds come after two pieces of debris found at Donald McLean Reserve were confirmed as bonded asbestos, located at the base of a tree. EPA believes the source of asbestos and other contaminants at the site was illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste after the mulch was delivered.
Inspections are also taking place in Merri-bek after reports of asbestos fragments being seen during the construction of a park Hosken Reserve in North Coburg back in January. EPA is aware the asbestos is in the soil, rather than linked to a mulch supplier.
Shore Reserve in Pascoe Vale South has also been inspected today, after a concerned resident reported seeing two small fragments similar in appearance to cement sheeting at the park. EPA has determined the suspicious fragments are likely to have come from littering rather than from mulch supplied at the park. There is no confirmation the material is asbestos at this time, however community members should not pick up material that even looks suspicious.
Bonded asbestos is generally made up of a small amount of asbestos fibres that are tightly bound in a product such as resin or cement. It is considered low risk for people who are in contact with it, unless it is damaged or badly weathered, resulting in asbestos fibres being released into the air and inhaled.
It is not unusual for people to find pieces of bonded asbestos in their homes or in the community, given the prevalence of use in construction from the mid-1940s to late 1980s.
If you find suspected asbestos, you should contact your local council environmental health officer or EPA. As a precaution, do not pick it up or handle it.
EPA has stringent requirements on the waste and recycling industry to prevent harm to our environment and human health, including from asbestos contamination. EPA carries out regular inspections of sites, including to assess the effectiveness of risk controls to prevent contamination.
There are significant penalties for those who do not comply with Victoria's environment protection laws.
EPA recently completed a program of targeted inspections of 59 commercial garden mulch producers across the state. No asbestos was found, and risk controls were generally of a high standard, with six sites required to make improvements.
Dumping of construction and demolition waste is illegal and we encourage community to report any suspicious activities to EPA on 1300 372 842.
