Lead contamination update: Woombye State School contaminated school block demolished
A drastic move has been made to keep Sunshine Coast school students safe from flaking lead paint in an ageing school building.
Sunshine Coast
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A Sunshine Coast school at the centre of a lead contamination scare has demolished one of its buildings following an investigation into the structure’s paint.
In September 2022, Woombye State School parents were notified a student at the school had tested positive to elevated levels of lead in their blood.
As a result, the D-block building that was home to the school’s tuckshop was restricted and the tuckshop was moved to the school hall.
A lead contamination hotline was set up for parents as the investigation into the flaking paint on the building continued.
Queensland Health was also notified and confirmed at the time free testing would be available for school families through their GPs or through the Sunshine Coast Public Health Unit.
An education department spokeswoman said that in December last year the D-block was demolished and more soil testing was done.
“Based on specified criteria all results are well within acceptable levels,” she said.
The spokeswoman said a “prefabricated building” would replace the demolished structure and would be ready for use at the start of term two.
“Woombye State School remains a popular school in the local community and enrolments have increased by more than three per cent in 2023,” she said.
The spokeswoman said two calls were received on the lead contamination hotline from the same parent.
“There have been no emails from the community to the email hotline,” she said.
The spokeswoman said the student that sparked the investigation remained at the school.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman said, in relation to a question about if the lead levels in the student’s blood had returned to normal, that she would not comment without the patient’s consent.
She said three families came forward for testing at the public health unit.
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