Asbestos testing at Taylor Swift Sydney concert venue

The home of Taylor Swift’s concert, Sydney Olympic Park, will be tested for asbestos this weekend, The Saturday Telegraph can reveal.

• Full list: Confirmed asbestos sites

The home of Taylor Swift’s concert, Sydney Olympic Park will be tested for asbestos this weekend, The Saturday Telegraph can reveal.

Asbestos investigators are expanding their work to more sites across Sydney as the government scrambles in the wake of a deepening crisis.

One of the additional sites is believed to be Sydney Olympic Park, where Taylor Swift will play her sold-out Sydney shows, with a government source saying the testing is proactive.

More than 320,000 fans are expected to descend on Olympic Park next weekend when pop star Taylor Swift and band Blink-182 play on the same night.

However NSW environment minister Penny Sharpe has reassured Swifties that their idol’s concert will go ahead.

“This will not stop Taylor Swift performing in Sydney,” she said.

“Sydney Olympic Park Authority is inspecting mulch that came from the supply chain under investigation, that has been used on a median strip on a divided road.

“An initial test on the mulch found no asbestos. A back up test is being conducted as a precaution.

“We are testing samples but, regardless, we can remove the mulch and remediate before Taylor Swift takes to the stage in the Harbour City”

Her first sydney show is next Friday. Picutre: SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP

Two other additional sites that have been identified by the EPA are St Justin’s Catholic Primary School and St Benedict’s Catholic College in Oran Park.

“You will be aware of recent media reports regarding health concerns related to mulch provided to a number of playgrounds and schools by Greenlife Resource Management,” the schools wrote to parents this afternoon.

“An audit of all Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong schools has been conducted and it has come to our attention that Greenlife Resource Management supplied some of the mulch that was used in the Mary Mackillop Parish Community Garden.”

Sydney Olympic Park is being tested for asbestos. Picture: John Appleyard

The schools said they would be closing the gardens as a precaution after seven schools across Sydney were flagged as having used the same mulch contractor.

When contacted this afternoon an EPA spokeswoman declined to comment until results from its testing were released.

It comes after seven schools underwent testing on Friday across Sydney, three state schools and four independent schools.

Only one chose to close today, St Luke’s Catholic College in Marsden Park.

Allambie Heights Public School, International Grammar School in Ultimo, Mt Annan Christian College, North Sydney Public School, Penrith Christian school and Westmead Christian Grammar all remained open to students on Friday.

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