Five more parks and reserves in Melbourne’s west have been found to have asbestos, with the majority of sites confirmed to have historic dumping or legacy contamination as the source.
Hobsons Bay City Council notified the Environment Protection Authority of the discoveries, bringing the total number of affected sites to 14 for the council. The new sites include Buffer Mound in Altona, Grieve Parade and Kororoit Creek Reserve in Altona North, Newport Lakes Reserve in Newport, and Truganina Park in Altona Meadows.
According to a statement by the watchdog on April 18, “Of the 21 sites inspected, seven have been cleared as being free of asbestos.”
The likely sources of contamination at the affected parks have been determined by EPA and Hobsons Bay City Council, with historic dumping or legacy in situ contamination identified for most sites.
Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood and Kororoit Creek Reserve are still without a confirmed source of asbestos contamination. The watchdog will continue to investigate and examine the council’s mulch supply chain to focus on contamination risk controls during transportation, handling, and laying of mulch.
“EPA confirms that its inspection of three mulch producers supplying Hobsons Bay City Council parks showed appropriate controls to prevent contamination in the final product,” the statement added.
Three additional Melbourne sites across different councils were found to have asbestos in April but have since been remediated and cleared. The likely sources of contamination at the 17 impacted sites in Melbourne are listed as follows:
Likely Source Of Contamination At Melbourne’s 17 Impacted Sites
Hobsons Bay City Council:
- Altona Coastal Park, Altona: historic dumping
- Buffer Mound, Altona: historic dumping
- PA Burns Reserve, Altona: legacy in situ contamination
- Crofts Reserve, Altona North: legacy in situ contamination
- Doug Grant Reserve, Altona: historic dumping
- Grieve Parade, Altona North: legacy in situ contamination
- GJ Hosken Reserve, Altona North: legacy in situ contamination
- Kororoit Creek Reserve, Altona North: uncertain
- Laverton Creek (rear of AB Shaw), Altona Meadows: historic dumping
- PJ Lynch Reserve, Altona North: historic dumping
- Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood: uncertain
- Newport Lakes Reserve, Newport: legacy in situ contamination
- Truganina Park, Altona Meadows: legacy in situ contamination
Brimbank Council:
- Fitzgerald Square Reserve, Sunshine West: historic dumping
City of Casey Council:
- Minihans Reserve, Cranbourne: historic dumping
Merri-bek City Council:
- Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South: nearby building works
