Hobsons Bay City Council provides EPA with asbestos update

Hobsons Bay City Council has informed Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria that five more of its parks and reserves have asbestos contamination, bringing the total number of sites affected in the local government area to 14.

The notification marks the end of Hobsons Bay City Council's current assessment of parks and reserves that have received recycled mulch. Of the 21 sites inspected, seven have been cleared as being free of asbestos.

EPA and Hobsons Bay City Council have determined the likely source of contamination at all but two of the 14 affected parks as being historic dumping or legacy in situ contamination.

EPA will continue to investigate the sources of the contamination in the two sites – Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood and Kororoit Creek Reserve, North Altona.

EPA will also forensically examine Hobsons Bay City Council's mulch supply chain, focusing on contamination risk controls of those involved in transporting, handling and laying mulch.

EPA reiterates that its inspection of three mulch producers that supplied Hobson Bay City Council parks showed they have appropriate controls to prevent contamination in the end product.

Hobsons Bay City Council released the following statement:

“The EPA have confirmed small amounts of bonded asbestos-containing material has been detected at nine sites.

“The EPA advises that the amount of contaminated material found so far was ‘extremely low’ and present a ‘negligible health risk’, but a highly precautionary approach is being taken.

“Sections where asbestos has been found will be fenced off until the site is cleared.

“We’re working with the EPA to remediate the sites as soon as possible.”

For detailed information on the current status of sites under investigation by EPA visit: epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/incidents/response-to-potential-asbestos