Premier Jacinta Allan says Victoria does not need new asbestos taskforce

Premier Jacinta Allan has shut down suggestions that Victoria needs an asbestos taskforce after the mineral was discovered near several playgrounds in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

Illegal dumping was likely behind asbestos found at two Melbourne parks. Picture: Diego Fedele

Premier Jacinta Allan has shut down suggestions that Victoria needs a separate taskforce to investigate asbestos dumping after the mineral was discovered at several playgrounds in Melbourne’s west.

Investigations are being conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency into how asbestos ended up in recycled mulch at four Hobsons Bay City playgrounds — three in Altona North and one at Spotswood — last week.

It’s believed the asbestos was illegally dumped.

Despite calls for the government to set up a new asbestos taskforce to assist the EPA — similar to a panel established in NSW in February — Ms Allan defended the EPA’s capacity to tackle asbestos incidents in the community.

“There are already significant resources and powers that the EPA and also Sustainability Victoria has in terms of handling asbestos in our community,” Ms Allan said.

“I understand this is an incredibly important issue for the community to know that the removal of asbestos from building sites is done in a safe and responsible manner.

“The EPA have the tools and resources that they need and that’s evidenced in the investigations they’re doing right now.

“We need to allow the EPA to conclude those investigations and release them to the community.”

Ms Allan said the EPA already had “rigorous powers” and tough restrictions around mulch dumping.

“The EPA has very strong powers and resources,” she said.

“That’s evidenced by the fact they already went out and undertook a number of site inspections. We need to let the EPA do the work they’re doing right now.”

Fencing and warning tape seen around playground equipment at a park where asbestos has been found at Hosken Reserve in Coburg. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Diego Fedele

EPA officers inspected five parks — four in Hobsons Bay Council and one in Merri-bek — on Saturday after hazardous material was discovered on site earlier this week.

But Hobsons Bay City Council “has been unable to supply the name of the mulch producer” for at least one of the parks, the off-lead dog area GJ Hosken Reserve, an EPA statement released on Saturday afternoon said.

“Investigations are continuing into who supplied the mulch to the Altona North parks,” the statement said.

They said “illegal asbestos” dumping was likely behind the contamination at PJ Lynch Reserve and Donald McLean Reserve, but could not say what the source was for the other three parks.

The EPA also revealed a sixth park - Shore Reserve in Pascoe Vale South - was inspected on Saturday “after a concerned resident reported seeing two small fragments similar in appearance to cement sheeting”.

“EPA has determined the suspicious fragments are likely to have come from littering rather than from mulch supplied at the park.

“There is no confirmation the material is asbestos at this time, however community members should not pick up material that even looks suspicious.”

The EPA statement said they were also inspecting Hobsons Bay City Council’s work “to cordon off sections of three Altona North” parks.

“We are satisfied Hobsons Bay City Council, as the land manager, has taken adequate action to protect the local community,” it said.

EARLIER

Asbestos has been found at three more parks in Melbourne’s west, only hours after authorities said the hazardous material was believed to be contained to one site.

Hobsons Bay City Council said in a statement on Friday evening that sections of three Altona North parks – Crofts Reserve, GJ Hosken Reserve and Lynch Reserve – would be closed after testing found “asbestos-containing material” in recycled mulch.

The testing had been prompted by the earlier discovery of bonded asbestos at Donald McLean Reserve in nearby Spotswood.

But in a bizarre development, the closures were announced two hours after the Environment Protection Authority released a separate statement on Friday afternoon, largely dismissing any reports of widespread contamination in Melbourne’s west.

“While its investigations continue, EPA believes that the issue is localised to Donald McLean Reserve and that the source of asbestos and other contaminants at the site was illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste that occurred after the mulch was delivered,” the statement said.

Asbestos was found at the Donald McLean Reserve playground in Spotswood earlier this week. Picture: Nicki Connolly

But on Friday night, the EPA issued a fresh statement, saying it was aware that asbestos-containing material has been identified at three new parks.

“While EPA understands only very small amounts of material were located, all suspected asbestos contamination must be taken seriously,” the statement said.

“EPA supports council fencing off the affected areas as a precautionary measure.

“EPA’s initial investigations have been focused on parks in the Hobson Bay City Council area that received mulch from the same supplier as the Don McLean Reserve.

“EPA’s investigations are ongoing and we will continue to work with Hobsons Bay City Council on this evolving issue.”

Sections of the three parks will now be closed until further notice, with the council confirming it will work with a material hygienist and the EPA to conduct “remediation works” on all the sites.

A playground was fenced off at Hosken Reserve in Coburg North where asbestos was found. Picture: Diego Fedele

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne on Saturday praised authorities’ “swift” response.

When asked about claims asbestos laws were being poorly enforced, Ms Horne said the process had “demonstrably worked well”.

“As soon as something is identified, both council and the EPA have jumped on it,” she said.

“They have moved swiftly and that should be of good comfort to the community.’

She said, after the discovery of asbestos in Spotswood, the EPA had focused on testing mulch from the same provider at other parks.

“However council, who have been working hand in glove with the EPA have gone out and extended their search and subsequently found a couple of other parks that have got this product,” she said.

“Based on the advice that’s been provided to me is that the risk for the contamination is very low.

“It is that bonded product where it is not a fibrous product.

“However it doesn’t diminish the concern that we do need to get this remediated and cleaned up and we do need to let the EPA and the council do their investigative work to be able to find how this occurred.”

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos said in a statement posted to social media that EPA officers were on the ground at the parks and “we’ll know more as investigations are concluded”.

“Work is ongoing and evolving,” he said.

“The EPA is taking every precaution even though risk associated with bundled asbestos is low.

“Community safety is the top priority and all reports are investigated thoroughly.”

Cautionary tape can be seen around playground equipment at a Coburg park where asbestos has been found. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Earlier on Friday, in what is believed to be a separate incident, another Melbourne park was closed after the discovery of asbestos, with the EPA confirming it had been found at Hosken Reserve in Coburg North, which is currently home to a construction site.

This is the second time the material has been found at Hosken Reserve but the EPA said it could reassure the community there was “low risk” and the Merri-bek City Council was in the process of removing the material.

A council spokeswoman said the contaminated soil was being removed by qualified asbestos removalists – scheduled to finish by May 31 – and that inner Melbourne construction projects “frequently” uncover “decades-old contamination”.

She said that safety was their priority, they were following all regulations, the air would be monitored to ensure workers and nearby residents were safe and that any soil containing asbestos was “sealed, undercover” and “inaccessible to the public”.

“The majority of Hosken Reserve, inclusive of the areas where asbestos-contaminated soil was located, has also been closed to the public since January 2024,” she said.

What is the risk of the asbestos at the Spotswood and Coburg North parks?

Western Australia University occupational respiratory epidemiology director Peter Franklin said asbestos caused deadly diseases, like mesothelioma and other cancers, and there is “no known safe level” of exposure.

But Associate Professor Franklin did not think families needed to be concerned if they had been to the parks, and most cases of serious illness or death in Australia are in people who were exposed repeatedly through work.

He said the risk from the asbestos at the Spotswood and Coburg North parks was extremely low, “almost negligible”.

“It's small amounts . . in a large area,” he said on Friday morning.

“So it’s a low chance of exposure.

“And it’s a low chance of disease even if you were exposed.”

He said bonded asbestos — the form found in the parks — was lower risk because the fibres were not released easily into the air.

“Even if a kid comes across a fragment and picks it up, it’s low-risk,” he said.

An EPA spokesmen said bonded asbestos was “generally made up of a small amount of asbestos fibres that are tightly bound in a product such as resin or cement”.

“It is considered low risk for people who are in contact with it, unless it is damaged or badly weathered, resulting in asbestos fibres being released into the air,” he said.

The EPA urges locals to report asbestos discoveries to their local council. Picture: Diego Fedele

What should you do if you find asbestos?

While the risk posed by the asbestos — which has been banned for years — in the park was low-risk, it can be extremely dangerous.

An EPA spokesman said anyone who finds any should contact their local council or the agency.

“Asbestos waste must be legally disposed of to landfill – it must not be reused in mulch or any other product,” he said.

“Unfortunately, illegal dumping of asbestos does occur, as does accidental contamination in construction and demolition waste that is recycled.

“As a precaution, do not pick it up or handle it.

“There are significant penalties for those that do not comply with Victoria’s environment protection laws.”