A threat of legal action has been made by a Sydney mayor against toll road operator Transurban after blue-green algae was discovered in Rozelle Parklands. This comes months after a statewide asbestos scare caused by the hazardous material found at the park.
Transport for New South Wales (NSW) announced on April 26 that most of the parklands would reopen on April 30 following the final removal of asbestos from the site. The park had been closed in January due to the discovery of bonded asbestos in the mulch.
The discovery led to the closure of schools, hospitals, and other parks as part of the Environmental Protection Authority’s largest investigation since its establishment in 1991.
While most of Rozelle Parklands will be open to the public, the wetlands managed by Transurban will remain fenced off due to the presence of blue-green algae, as stated by Transport for NSW.
Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne expressed frustration on behalf of the locals regarding the ongoing issues with the Rozelle Interchange, asbestos contamination, and now the algae bloom.
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“Transurban must be held accountable for their actions. They have been responsible for the care, control, and management of these wetlands for six months now, and we demand answers regarding their testing procedures,” stated Mr. Byrne during a press conference at the park.
“We are sending a letter to Transurban today, requiring immediate responses on how they plan to address this issue and what measures have been taken to ensure public safety thus far. We are giving them until April 29 to respond before pursuing legal action on our own.
“We urge the CEO of Transurban to come down and meet with our community promptly to discuss the remediation of this situation and the safety of the park.”
Transurban acknowledged that algae had been detected in the wetlands earlier in the month and referred to ongoing investigations by Transport for NSW.
“Regardless of whose responsibility it is, our focus is on resolving the problem and ensuring the safety of the area and the community,” said a spokesperson for Transurban.
Greens MP for Balmain, Kobi Shetty, emphasized the community’s right to information on how the algae bloom occurred at the park amid concerns for public safety.
“This latest incident underscores a troubling pattern of neglect towards our community’s well-being by Transurban,” Ms. Shetty remarked.
Blue-green algae can pose health risks to individuals and pets who come into contact with it, including skin irritations, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, and cramps.
In March, the state government announced plans to double penalties for environmental offenses in NSW following the asbestos contamination incident.
