Bonded asbestos found at proposed Nutrisoy food manufacturing plant in Banksmeadow

An Australian-owned food manufacturing company is willing to shell out a whopping $75m to build a facility in Sydney’s southeast, despite traces of asbestos on the site.

An Australian-owned food manufacturing company is willing to shell out a whopping $75m to build a facility in Sydney’s southeast, despite traces of asbestos being found on the site.

Nutrisoy, which manufactures tofu and other tempeh-based products for retail sale, wants to expand its operations and construct a food manufacturing facility in Banksmeadow.

Plans state the proposed facility would be multi-storey and that there would be space to park 96 vehicles, 10 bicycles and nine motorcycles.

They also detail proposed stormwater infrastructure, landscaping embellishments, remediation, and a proposal to built a road that would connect Pater St to Swinbourne St for heavy trucks to use.

The site would require preparation that includes the removal of 22 trees, the demolition of existing structures, excavation and earthworks.

An artist’s impression of the front entrance of the Nutrisoy site. Picture: Bayside Council

The Australian arm of Kellogg’s owns the land, which is currently being subleased for use as parking for cars, trucks and trailers.

However, a preliminary site investigation report, dated January 2023, discovered “exposed fill material” had been used to level the southern portion of the site.

An aerial view of the proposed site. Picture: Bayside Council

“Bonded asbestos fragments were identified on the surface of the fill material,” the report said.

“During the site inspection, bonded asbestos fragments were identified in fill material.

“Potential for localised soil contamination on-site has been identified. The industrial plants within 500m of site represent a potential groundwater contamination source. Further investigation is required to assess the presence or otherwise of such contamination.”

The latest detailed site investigation report, dated July 2024, states the bonded asbestos remained on the site, having been “identified in stockpiled spoil in the eastern central portion of site”.

An artist impression of the site from the southeast. Picture: Bayside Council

“The stockpile was subsequently covered by builder’s plastic, isolated using high-visibility fencing and signed to warn site users of the asbestos’ presence,” the report said.

“While these measures are in place, no exposure pathway exists between site users and the asbestos impacted soils. However, in order to facilitate construction of the proposed development, more permanent remediation measures will be required.”

The report also found traces of dissolved heavy metals, such as arsenic, zinc and lead in the onsite wells.

However, Geo-Logix, which investigated the site both times, states the dissolved metals were “consistent with typical regional background levels warranting no further investigation”.

The 2023 report outlines that the contamination could be a result of the many buildings and sheds, which were built between 1930s and 1970s, before being “gradually demolished by 2013”.

Prior to Kellogg’s acquiring the land in the 1980s, it was owned by saddle manufacturer Bates (Australasia).

Before that, the land had been privately owned for over a century.