Demands for Greater transparency and investigations into asbestos crisis
13 February 2024 - Greens MP has today submitted questions through the Parliament and written to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) demanding more answers about the growing asbestos contamination crisis across Sydney. Discoveries of asbestos at the Rozelle Parklands, Campbelltown Hospital, Liverpool West Public School and Harmony Park in Surry Hills have prompted calls for an immediate moratorium on further movement throughout the State of mulch and soil that might contain asbestos, and urgent testing at all facilities that supply these materials.
Greens MP and spokesperson for the Environment Sue Higginson said “The rapidly increasing number of sites that are being found with asbestos laden mulch should be ringing alarm bells for the EPA and the Government, this is a developing crisis that reflects a failed regulatory system that requires urgent action,”
“We need to know what the EPA is doing and whether they are testing sites connected to the same supplier of mulch from the Rozelle Parklands and whether they are proactively contacting other mulch suppliers to ensure asbestos is not being distributed to other places,”
“I have written to the EPA and put questions to the Minister to find out whether they are treating this issue with the necessary urgency and to encourage them to proactively release information to the public,”
“Until we can have confidence that mulch and soil suppliers are free from asbestos, and other harmful materials, there must be a moratorium on moving soil and mulch to sensitive areas without chemical testing. We want a circular waste system and we can have one, but it must be fit for purpose,”
“This crisis could be growing worse by every passing day unless the Government acts to ensure that mulch and soil is verified as safe before it lands at sites across Sydney and NSW,” Ms Higginson said.