Asbestos found at under-construction dog park at Logan
A mulch pile set to be used in the construction of a dog park has tested positive for asbestos, in the first detection of the deadly fibre in a public place since investigations into contaminated compost began.
QLD News
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A mulch pile set to be used in the construction of a dog park has tested positive for asbestos, in the first detection of the deadly fibre in a public place since investigations into contaminated compost began.
Everleigh Dog Park, at a development at Greenbank in Logan, returned a positive result for asbestos, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has confirmed.
The site is under construction, is not accessible to the public and is deemed a low risk to the community.
But it is also the first confirmation contaminated compost has been found outside the stockpiles of beleaguered waste company NuGrow.
Tonnes of potentially contaminated soil was feared spread across schools, construction sites, landscape suppliers and even a car dealership after a small amount of asbestos was detected at NuGrow’s Ipswich site on February 28.
Truckloads had 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 through a network of NuGrow’s suppliers.
A total of 11 sites—including Everleigh Dog Park-- were on Workplace Health and Safety’s register of potentially contaminated sites.
Five spots including Calamvale Special School, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, Wynola Park in Coorparoo, Flagstone State School and Spring Mountain State School have been cleared.
Results are pending for five others.
Developer Mirvac confirmed on March 1 that construction at Everleigh Dog Park had been halted and the site cordoned off after the mulch pile was identified as coming from NuGrow.
The Department of Environment on March 7 confirmed no further evidence of asbestos contamination had been found at NuGrow’s facility at Swanbank.
And investigators also ruled out any suggestion asbestos fibres may have blown over to NuGrow’s facility from adjoining business Lantrak, which does have authority to handle asbestos.
No compliance issues were identified at Lantrak and a spokesman for the department noted it was “highly unlikely” emissions from neighbouring sites would account for asbestos at NuGrow.
“(We have) also been undertaking air monitoring in the area and results so far indicate that asbestos levels in the residential areas in the vicinity of the NuGrow facility are consistent with the typical concentration of background airborne asbestos in the environment,” the DES spokesman said.
DES executive director Brad Wirth last week said the department would continue to “engage with NuGrow and monitor the situation to ensure any material leaving the site is suitable for use”.
“Our focus is on ensuring asbestos contaminated waste isn’t used in the production of soil, mulch, compost or any other products in Queensland,” he said.
Originally published as Asbestos found at under-construction dog park at Logan
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