Officers from EPA Victoria yesterday completed inspections of six parks across two metropolitan councils, as the investigation into dumped asbestos continues.
On Saturday, 6 April inspections were conductedin parks in Hobsons Bay City Council and Merri-bek Council areas, following reports of potential asbestos in a small number of local parks.
Inspections and investigations by EPA officers continue today.
Updates on each area:
PA Burns Reserve, Altona North
The new park identified is PA Burns Reserve, a dog park in Altona North. EPA inspected the site late Saturday 6 April after a report from the community.
New mulch has been spread around the toilet blocks and is contaminated with building waste. Hobsons Bay City Council has not provided information to EPA about the source of the mulch at this time.
EPA officers took six samples of potential asbestos for prioritised testing.
GJ Hosken Reserve, Altona North
An off-lead dog area with garden mulch that was inspected by EPA officers on 6 April, with further inspections underway today.
Hobsons Bay City Council has not yet confirmed with EPA who supplied the mulch. EPA understands council continues to search its records.
It is understood the mulch was supplied in 2017.
Two additional pieces of suspected asbestos found at the park have been sent away for prioritised testing.
Hobsons Bay City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.
Crofts Reserve, Altona North
EPA officer found six suspected asbestos fragments at Crofts Reserve in Altona North during inspections on 6 April. These have been sent for prioritised testing.
There is a mixture of new and old mulch at Crofts Reserve. The newer mulch appears more contaminated than older material.
Prioritised testing on asbestos samples collected by EPA is ongoing.
Hobsons Bay City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.
Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South
Inspections by EPA officers at Shore Reserve in Pascoe Vale South yesterday, Saturday 6 April led to the removal of three pieces of potential asbestos and they have been sent for prioritised testing.
These pieces are considerably larger than mulch. They appear to have come from one building source.
Hosken Reserve, North Coburg
A.construction site being managed by Merri-bek City Council where asbestos contamination has been found in soil.
Contamination is believed to be from historic buried material. It is not associated with mulch products.
Merri-bek City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.
PJ Lynch Reserve, Altona North
EPA visited this reserve last week and found fragments that were tested and identified as bonded asbestos.
Investigations show source is likely to be illegal dumping.
On Saturday 6 April, EPA officers again inspected the site and found no further evidence of asbestos.
The site is being managed by Hobsons Bay City Council.
Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood
There have been no further visits to this site during the weekend.
Two pieces of bonded asbestos were previously found at the site, located at the base of a tree.
EPA believes the source of asbestos and other contaminants at the site was due to illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste that occurred after the mulch was delivered.
Hobsons Bay City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.
Illegal dumping
EPA investigations are showing much of the material found at these sites may be a result of illegal dumping.
When determining if a case is likely to be illegal dumping, officers look at the size and placement of the material. When suspected asbestos pieces are larger in size than the standard size mulch, it is unlikely the asbestos has been through the mulching process.
If the asbestos is sitting on the surface, rather than mixed into the mulch, it is most probably a recent addition to the mulch.
Officers also look for other signs of contamination in the area, such as more building waste and debris.
A combination of these factors has led EPA officers to believeillegal dumping is an issue in some parks. Investigations will continue.
Type of asbestos found
So far, the material confirmed as asbestos containing material is bonded asbestos, not the more dangerous friable asbestos.
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.
It is not unusual for people to find pieces of bonded asbestos in their homes or in the community. 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.
Regulatory controls
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 from occurring.
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.
Public reporting
Dumping of construction and demolition waste is illegal and we encourage community to report any suspicious activities to EPA on 1300 372 842.
