Asbestos fears: All The Hills and Hornsby schools on the Education department Asbestos Register
The NSW Government has been grilled for failing to update the NSW Education department register for asbestos in schools — see the full list of schools in The Hills and Hornsby here.
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Dozens of schools across northwest Sydney have been revealed to contain dangerous asbestos in a government review that has not been updated since 2017.
A total of 19 schools in the Hornsby and Ku-ring-gai local government areas were identified on the government register, while a further 15 schools were identified across The Hills and Riverstone.
The Education Department’s register, which identifies the existence of asbestos and the location of material on school sites, was released in November 2017 and raised in NSW Parliament this week.
The NSW Government also released an Asbestos Management Plan in August, 2017, which aimed at setting a standard practice for the identification, management and removal of the dangerous building product.
Education spokeswoman and Labor MP Prue Car said the number of schools on the register was “staggering”
“Surely the Government has a responsibility to inform parents and teachers about the plan to remove this,” she said. “The Government’s list is now two years old and they’ve done nothing about it.
“Our children’s safety must come first.”
A Education Department spokeswoman said the “health, safety and wellbeing of students, staff and neighbours is our highest priority”.
“The Department of Education has a rigorous system of maintenance and monitoring at all schools across NSW,” she said.
“Asbestos is managed in accordance with the Department of Education’s Asbestos Management Plan and Safe Work NSW by licensed and accredited asbestos removalists and occupational hygienists in strict accordance with all applicable legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines.
“Appropriate safety measures are implemented prior to and during removal as well as during any remediation works required.”
However, there is no updated asbestos register to identify which schools have already undertaken the removal process. But the government reassured parents and carers that the materials are removed out of school hours.
“At any time friable asbestos is suspected, the Department acts immediately to secure and remediate,” the spokeswoman said.
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“This includes the removal of students from the area of concern, the engagement of an independent hygienist, air monitoring and the commissioning of licensed contractors to remove the asbestos in accordance with the Safe Work NSW guidelines.”
More than $10 million has been invested on asbestos remediation in more than 120 public schools in 2018/19 and 2019/20.
Riverstone state Liberal MP Kevin Connolly said his office has “no record of any correspondence from schools or school communities about any asbestos concerns since 2011”.
Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell, Hornsby Liberal MP Matt Kean, Baulkham Hills Liberal MP David Elliott and Castle Hill Liberal MP Ray Williams were contacted for comment.
HORNSBY AND KU-RING-GAI SCHOOLS:
Hornsby Girls High
Warrawee Public
Wideview Public
Asquith Girls
Asquith Boys
Asquith Public
Cheltenham Girls High
Galston High
Galston Public
Hornsby North
Hornsby South
Mount Colah Public
Mount Ku-ring-gai
Normanhurst Public
Normanhurst West
Pennant Hills Public
Thornleigh West Public
West pennant Hills Public
Ku-ring-gai High
THE HILLS AND ROUSE HILL SCHOOLS:
Northmead Public
Baulkham Hills North
Carlingford High
Carlingford West
Cattai Public
Glenorie Public
Kellyville Public
Kenthurst Public
Murray Farm Public
Wisemans Ferry Public
Riverstone High
Riverstone Public
Vineyard Public