Recycled building material in mulch at Spotswood’s Donald McLean Reserve prompts temporary closure by Hobsons Bay Council

A popular playground in Melbourne’s west has been closed over the school holidays after asbestos was found among “dangerous” building material in the mulch.

A popular Melbourne playground has been taped off and labelled a no go zone after asbestos found among “dangerous” building material in the mulch surrounding the equipment.

The play area at Spotswood’s Donald McLean Reserve was out of action during the Easter break after a parent founds pieces of brick, concrete, wire and other composite materials mixed amongst the mulch.

Suspected building materials were found in the mulch at Donald McLean Reserve on the weekend.
Picture: Nilsson Jones

The park, which only opened in April 2023, was built in partnership with the West Gate Tunnel Project and Hobsons Bay City Council.

Yarraville father Jason Murphy said he made the dangerous discovery on Monday after taking his two young children to the park.

Mr Murphy claimed he found wood with nails and other composite materials in the bark. Picture: Supplied

“Imagine having an Easter egg hunt down there and your kid coming back with composite material, it is horrifying for any parent” Mr Murphy said.

“Given what they spent on the tunnel, the least they could do is spend a bit more on better mulch for kids of the west.

“Hopefully the investigation leads to exposure of shonky operators and suppliers if they are using recycled materials and nothing like this happens again.”

The West Gate Fwy serves as a backdrop for the temporarily closed park in Spotswood.
Picture: Nilsson Jones

He was particularly concerned following the discovery of mulch contaminated with asbestos at a park in Sydney’s inner west earlier this year which prompted an investigation by the NSW government.

The West Gate Tunnel Project provided $5m funding to help improve and upgrade local parks and sports facilities in the inner west.

Composite building materials, wire, and concrete were reportedly located throughout the area.
Picture: Supplied

The play area features a large, sheltered BBQ area, a bike skills area, flying fox, basketball and netball court and a children’s playground.

The area is situated across the road from the West Gate Freeway and neighbours multiple sporting grounds and facilities.

Mr Murphy and other residents claim they have reported the incident via the Snap Send Solve app, and have contacted EPA (Environment Protection Agency) Victoria.

A council spokesperson said a specialist material hygienist inspected the playground areas at Donald McLean Reserve on Tuesday and removed two pieces of material.

“Preliminary testing has confirmed the pieces are material unsuitable for the site. The playground has been closed since Tuesday and the council is working with the hygienist and the EPA to determine a management plan to ensure the safety of our community,’’ they said.

A West Gate Tunnel Project spokesperson said: “We are liaising with Hobsons Bay City Council, who oversaw construction of the playground and are leading this investigation.”

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