A small amount of garden mulch used in landscaping in the Rozelle Parklands was found to contain traces of bonded asbestos. On Wednesday 10 January, we took immediate action to close Rozelle Parklands to the public while we carry out testing of mulch across the park and associated sites.
Targeted testing of the Parklands and associated sites by independent contamination and remediation experts is now complete, with one new site today returning a positive result for bonded asbestos.
The additional site is a garden bed near the junction of the Anzac Bridge and Victoria Road. This landscaping was done at the same time as other sites that have returned positive results. Fencing is being installed this evening (15 January), to close it off to the public.
Most bicycle and walking paths within Rozelle Parklands and surrounding sites have reopened to ensure the community can get to where they need to go, following advice from an independent specialist. All mulched areas within the park remain fenced off at this time and plans are being developed to replace any affected garden mulch across the site.
Air monitoring continues at locations around the Rozelle Parklands and tests have not identified air borne particles outside of normal expected parameters. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is completing a full risk assessment with NSW Health to determine what, if any, risk there may be to human health or the environment, and ensure all necessary safeguards are in place.
Transport remains committed to your safety and appreciates your patience while we look to resolve this issue as quickly as possible. We will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available.
