East Marden lead dust alert: questions asked why Education Department didn’t tell parents for two weeks

Potentially dangerous lead dust was discovered at a popular Adelaide school more than two weeks before it was reported to school community.

Potentially dangerous lead dust was discovered at a popular Adelaide school more than two weeks before it was reported to the school community.

The Advertiser on Tuesday revealed East Marden Primary School had issued a public health alert after lead dust was found in one of its main student buildings that also houses the canteen.

But questions have been raised after revelations a teacher discovered the potentially dangerous dust in week 6 – but parents were not told until last Thursday of week 8.

SA Health and SafeWork SA have been called in to check the school’s Sapphire building after black dust spillage that was discovered by a teacher on June 8.

The school community was told last Thursday, June 23.

Parents have told The Advertiser of their concern at the lack of information while 90 students – or almost a fifth of the school – were moved into the school’s gym to avoid the dust.

At least two school teachers are pregnant.

“The canteen was mysteriously closed a couple of weeks ago but the wider community weren’t told why – most parents assumed the canteen manager was off sick with Covid or something,” said one parent.

Years 5 and 6 students – who are normally housed in the building – were moved the following day into the gym of the school at Campbelltown, in Adelaide’s northeast.

The building, built in the 1960s, had a $1m upgrade in 2018.

East Marden's gym, which has been turned into classrooms, after black dust fell from a building roof. Picture: Supplied

Officials defended the delay, saying that Friday was a student-free day before a long weekend when other pupils and teachers were moved.

An Education Department spokeswoman said: “Since that time testing of the surfaces and the ceiling space was undertaken; a report prepared; SA Health advice taken; evaluation of the building by contractors; and a determination made about the appropriate way to manage the situation moving forward. The letter was sent to parents on 23 June.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said he was concerned about the dust revelations and the lack of communication but “nothing is more important than the safety” of students.

East Marden's gym, which has been turned into classrooms, after black dust fell from a building roof. Picture: Supplied

Parents Sarah and Lisa, have several children at the school between them, and were concerned about the classroom closures. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Malinauskas said correspondence from the Education Department was delivered to the school and parents, however, he was making inquiries into the “exact timeline”.

“I am relieved to be advised by SA Health that the risk is very, very minimal indeed,” he said.

“Nonetheless, what I’ve been making inquiries about this morning – not surprisingly – is making sure that there’s been adequate communications in place between the school and parents,” he said.

Local Liberal MP Vincent Tarzia said it was a “deeply concerning incident”.

“It is clear that these concerns have not been addressed soon enough and require urgent attention,” he said.

“Any incident like this that puts our children at risk is totally unacceptable and the Government needs to act immediately.”

On Wednesday morning, the Education Department’s chief operating officer Ben Temperly said officials worked as quickly as possible.

“There’s no doubt this is a tricky situation but I’m confident that as soon as the issue was identified we looked to take action,” he told ABC Radio.

“The immediate response was to remove students from any potential risk by taking them out of that particular classroom and commence the testing straight away.

“But in this case I think everyone involved whether it’s been the environmental testers, our colleagues in SA Health, the school leadership everyone responded as quickly as they can both to manage the immediate risk and now to remediate the situation.”

He said those concerned about their health relating to the dust at the school should visit their GP.

Mr Temperly said the affected building would be remediated and students will return to those classrooms at the start of next term.

He said all dust will be removed and an assessment will be undertaken on the structural integrity of the building.