EPA is today continuing its investigations into the source of mulch delivered to impacted parks.

EPA is also writing to all Victorian councils asking them to assess quality controls for landscaping works and supply contracts for garden mulch, and to demolition companies reminding them of their environmental compliance obligations in relation to asbestos management during demolition works.

 

EPA yesterday issued Hobsons Bay City Council with two remedial notices, ordering proactive inspections of more parks and gardens in its area as well as requiring further information from the council.

 

EPA requires Hobsons Bay City Council to investigate the nature and extent of any harm or risk of harm to human health arising from asbestos in reserves or land areas managed by the council.

 

Under the conditions the notices, Hobsons Bay City Council must commission a hygienist to inspect all council managed parks and gardens that have received mulch in the past 18 months.

 

Work should start today and must be completed by 10 May. The council will need to keep EPA updated daily of its inspections.

 

EPA will also review the council’s procedures regarding the sourcing of mulch, safety and quality checks, replacement and maintenance.

 

EPA has requested all reports dating back to July 2021, from council, its staff, contractors and the general public in regard to asbestos containing materials found in mulch at or around Hobsons Bay City Council infrastructure.

 

Hobsons Bay City Council must also provide EPA with a list of all suppliers used to source mulch by the council, its contractors and sub-contractors from the same time period.

 

Hobsons Bay City Council has until April 22 to comply with the notices.

 

Weekend inspections

 

During the weekend, EPA officers completed inspections at seven parks across two metropolitan councils,as the investigation into dumped asbestos continues.

 

Inspections were conducted in parks in Hobsons Bay City Council and Merri-bek Council areas, following reports of potential asbestos.

 

Updates on each area:

 

Samples have been sent to the laboratory with requests for priority turnaround – we expect results on the afternoon of Tuesday 9 April.

Kororoit Creek Trail, Altona North

A 1.2 km section of Kororoit Creek Trail in the area of GJ Hosken Reserve was inspected by EPA officers on Sunday 7 April. No suspected asbestos fragments were found.

 

PA Burns Reserve, Altona

 

PA Burns Reserve is a dog park in Altona North. EPA inspected the site late Saturday 6 April after a report from the community. Further inspections were undertaken, Sunday 7 April.

 

EPA officers took six samples of potential asbestos for prioritised testing, with results expected on Tuesday, 9 April.

 

Mulch has recently been spread around a newly constructed toilet block at the site and contains some building waste. EPA officers believe that mulch may have been placed on top of building waste remaining on site post-construction.

 

EPA has sought information from council about the source of mulch through the regulatory notice it has issued.

 

GJ Hosken Reserve, Altona North

 

An off-lead dog area with garden mulch inspected by EPA officers on 6 April, with further inspections conducted today.

 

Hobsons Bay City Council has not yet confirmed with EPA who supplied the mulch. EPA understands council continues to search its records.

 

It is understood that some of the mulch was supplied as early 2017, with some more recent mulch also at the site.

 

Two additional pieces of suspected asbestos found at the park have been sent away for prioritised testing, with results expected on Tuesday, 9 April.

 

Hobsons Bay City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.

   

Crofts Reserve, Altona North

 

EPA officers found six suspected asbestos fragments at Crofts Reserve in Altona North during inspections on 6 April, with further inspections conducted yesterday.

 

Prioritised testing of asbestos samples collected by EPA is underway with results expected on Tuesday, 9 April.

 

There is a mixture of new and old mulch at Crofts Reserve, consistent with that found at GJ Hosken Reserve.

 

Hobsons Bay City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.

 

Shore Reserve, Pascoe Vale South

 

Inspections by EPA officers at Shore Reserve in Pascoe Vale South on Saturday 6 April led to the removal of three pieces of potential asbestos and they have been sent for prioritised testing.

 

These pieces are considerably larger than mulch, indicating it may not have been present during the mulching process. No other contamination was identified.

 

Hosken Reserve, North Coburg

A construction site being managed by Merri-bek City Council where asbestos contamination has been found in soil.

 

Contamination is believed to be from historic buried material. It is not associated with mulch products.

 

Merri-bek City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.

 

PJ Lynch Reserve, Altona North

 

EPA visited this reserve last week and found fragments that were tested and identified as bonded asbestos.

 

Investigations show the source is likely to be illegal dumping.

 

On Saturday 6 April, EPA officers again inspected the site and found no further evidence of asbestos.

 

The site is being managed by Hobsons Bay City Council.

 

Donald McLean Reserve, Spotswood

 

There have been no further visits to this site during the weekend.

 

Two pieces of bonded asbestos were previously found at the site, located at the base of a tree.

 

EPA believes the source of asbestos and other contaminants at the site was due to illegal dumping of construction and demolition waste that occurred after the mulch was delivered.

 

Hobsons Bay City Council has restricted access to the area while it implements its remediation plan.

 

Illegal dumping

 

EPA investigations are showing much of the material found at these sites may a result of illegal dumping.

 

When determining if a case is likely to be illegal dumping, officers look at the size and placement of the material.

 

When suspected asbestos pieces are larger in size than the standard size mulch, it is unlikely the asbestos has been through the mulching process.

 

If the asbestos is sitting on the surface, rather than mixed into the mulch, it is most probably a recent addition to the mulch.

 

Officers also look for other signs of contamination in the area, such as more building waste and debris.

 

A combination of these factors has led EPA officers to believe illegal dumping is an issue in some parks. Investigations will continue.

 

Type of asbestos found

 

So far, the material confirmed as asbestos containing material is bonded asbestos, not the more dangerous friable asbestos.

 

Bonded asbestos is 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 damage or bad weathering means that asbestos fibres can be released into the air.

 

It is not unusual for people to find pieces of bonded asbestos in their homes or in the community. If you find suspected asbestos, you should contact your local council environmental health officer or EPA. As a precaution, do not pick it up or handle it.

 

Regulatory controls

 

EPA has stringent requirements on the waste and recycling industry to prevent harm to our environment and human health, including from asbestos contamination. EPA carries out regular inspections of sites, including to assess the effectiveness of risk controls to prevent contamination from occurring.

 

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

 

EPA recently completed a program of targeted inspections of 59 commercial garden mulch producers across the state. No asbestos was found, and risk controls were generally of a high standard, with six (6) sites required to make improvements.

 

Public reporting

 

Dumping of construction and demolition waste is illegal and we encourage community to report any suspicious activities to EPA on 1300 372 842. To report potential asbestos, press Option 2, then Option 6.