Schools, new homes and car yard: List of asbestos-contaminated sites grows

The list of areas across Queensland carrying potentially asbestos-tainted soil has grown to eight, with schools, a car dealership, and a new residential development now impacted. SEE THE MAP

The list of areas across Queensland carrying potentially asbestos-tainted soil has grown to eight, with schools, a car dealership, and a new residential development now impacted.

Tonnes of potentially contaminated soil has been spread across schools, constructions sites and landscape suppliers across Queensland after authorities detected a small about of asbestos at the Ipswich site of troubled waste company NuGrow.

Truckloads have 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.

On Friday four more sites were added to list, bringing the total to eight.

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

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

Developer Mirvac confirmed construction at the Everleigh Dog Park had been halted and the site cordoned off after a batch of soil from NuGrow — through a third party — was used.

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

“In simple terms, the (product has) been designed for use outdoors. So the use of that outdoors means that if it is disturbed, the potential of any exposure to fibres is lessened because of the open air dilution,” he said.

The Department of Environment and Science is now working to determine the levels of asbestos within four soil stockpiles at NuGrow Ipswich, with testing results due back from overloaded labs next week.

A total of 23 sites in southeast Queensland were tested as part of a proactive campaign to identify any potential asbestos contamination in mulch and compost in light of the crisis gripping New South Wales.

Results for 18 of the sites have returned, with NuGrow Ipswich still the only facility to have tested positive.

Trucks near NuGrow site, Swanbank. Picture: Liam Kidston

The amount of asbestos found was small — just two strands no more than 3mm long.

Department of Environment and Science executive director Brad Wirth confirmed green waste processing facilities — which is the stop before materials go to businesses like NuGrow — were tested.

A total of 16 businesses stretching from Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast have received soil from NuGrow Ipswich since the start of February.

“We think this has gone to probably 16 landscaping supply businesses, leaving in truckloads,” Mr McKay said.

A number of businesses who spoke to the Courier-Mail confirmed the soil they had sourced from NuGrow was no longer on-site after being used in projects.

Mr McKay said there was no legal requirement for the businesses to test the NuGrow soil they have on hand, but they did need to “appropriately manage the hazard”.

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

NuGrow confirmed it was working with regulators to quarantine the stockpile and cease any off site movement of materials unless certified to be asbestos free.

The company also asserted the amount of asbestos found was “extremely low” and was the equivalent concentration that could be found in any random sample of sand, mulch or soil taken from any public space.