A primary school in Sydney's west has been forced to close for two days after asbestos was discovered in garden mulch, prompting urgent safety measures. Liverpool West Public School, which has more than 600 pupils, was identified as a priority site for testing after it was found to have purchased mulch from the same manufacturer linked to contamination at a newly-opened park in Rozelle.
Test results confirmed on Sunday that a single piece of bonded asbestos was present in the mulch. The NSW Department of Education has enacted its asbestos protocol, and the school will operate with remote learning on Monday and Tuesday as a precaution.
NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) chief executive Tony Chappel said the agency was concerned by the findings and was working around the clock to ensure the safety of the school community. 'We understand that finding asbestos at a school is extremely concerning for families,' he said. The EPA was notified of the potential issue on Friday afternoon, and a licensed asbestos assessor conducted tests on Saturday morning.
Asbestos exposure can lead to serious health issues, including lung, ovarian and laryngeal cancers, as well as mesothelioma, according to the Cancer Council. The EPA has conducted more than 100 tests at sites across Sydney, with 13 returning positive results for bonded asbestos, which NSW Health advises is low risk to public health.
The EPA is supporting the school and the Department of Education to secure the site and arrange for the contaminated mulch to be cleaned up and replaced. Anyone with concerns about recently received mulch is urged to contact the EPA Environment Line.
