Asbestos impact sites grow as authorities investigate contamination cause

Beleaguered waste company NuGrow will come into sharp focus for environmental authorities as they seek to determine how asbestos got into a stockpile of compost now spread across Queensland.

Beleaguered waste company NuGrow will come into sharp focus for environmental authorities as they seek to determine how asbestos got into a stockpile of compost now spread across Queensland.

Tonnes of potentially contaminated soil has been spread across schools, construction sites, landscape suppliers and even a car dealership after a small amount of asbestos was detected at NuGrow’s Ipswich site.

A total of 23 waste sites were tested under a joint operation by the Department of Environment and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland sparked by the asbestos mulch crisis gripping New South Wales.

And the return of all results on Friday has confirmed NuGrow’s Ipswich site as the only area to test positive for asbestos — an amount equal to two strands each measuring 1.5mm by 3mm.

St Aidan's Anglican Girls' School was delivered mulch which maybe contaminated with Asbestos. The mulch was being used for landscaping at its under-construction Sport Performance Centre. Corinda Thursday 29th February 2024 Picture David Clark

Department of Environment and Science executive director Brad Wirth said the focus of investigations was now into determining if NuGrow had “complied with its environmental responsibilities”.

NuGrow is prohibited from accepting asbestos under its environmental authority.

“While the source of asbestos at the NuGrow site is yet to be determined, it’s timely to remind waste operators of their obligations to properly inspect incoming waste for asbestos and to have procedures in place to segregate and manage any asbestos received,” Mr Wirth said.

Asbestos has been detected in a compost stockpile at NuGrow Ipswich Pty LtdÕs site. Swanbank. Picture: Liam Kidston

NuGrow, in a statement, affirmed it followed industry best practice “regarding testing of our product ranges prior to approval for sale”.

An extra six sites outside the southeast — including more NuGrow locations — have been tested.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland regulator Peter McKay said the risk to the public remained “low” in part because of the low level found at NuGrow’s Ipswich site, and how the soil has been used.

“But we will continue to take no chances,” he said.

Truckloads of the potentially tainted compost been used in construction sites across the southeast, particularly as underlay for turf or in garden beds ultimately covered under a thick layer of mulch.

The number of impacted sites accessible to the public grew to nine as of Friday afternoon.

This includes a new residential development on Thornton St in Kangaroo Point, where the soil is under turf.

Potentially contaminated soil was also used at Downtown Toyota at Morningside, Spring Mountain State School near on the outskirts of Springfield, and Flagstone State School in Jimboomba.

At all six schools impacted the compost was used at construction sites not accessible to the public or students.

NuGrow is one of the companies at the centre over a stink that Ipswich residents claim is causing them health issues has been slapped with more than $45,000 worth of fines by the state’s environment department.

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