Top Posts
Death toll from Mokwa flood rises to 153
Scientists say nearly 40% of the world’s glaciers...
Nigerian government seeks alignment of NDC climate action...
German court dismisses climate case against RWE
WHO Climate Change action plan approved
Report: World likely to breach 1.5°C limit in...
At Bonn climate talks, Brazil demands early deals...
Researchers warn Africa could face 113 million climate...
LAPO MfB launches tree-planting initiative to fight climate...
Stiell says new NDCs are about growth, antidote...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

EPA warns councils after asbestos found in Melbourne parks

by admineconai April 8, 2024
written by admineconai April 8, 2024
458

Victoria’s environment watchdog has warned local councils to tighten quality controls on potential asbestos in mulch, as it investigates suspected illegal dumping of the contaminated material, which has been discovered at several parks.

On Sunday, April 7, the Victorian Environment Protection Authority said that it had ordered Hobsons Bay council, in Melbourne’s west, to hand over records of its supply chain for mulch production and conduct wider testing for asbestos, after the material was found in several reserves in the council area.

The EPA on Monday said that its inspections uncovered contaminated material at six parks, five in the Hobsons Bay council area and one in Merri-bek council, in Melbourne’s north. The EPA has sent materials containing suspected asbestos from four sites to be tested, with results expected on Tuesday.

The EPA’s director of regulatory services, Duncan Pendrigh, on Monday said the regulator would write to all councils urging them to examine their quality assurance processes for construction and landscape work.

“They’re all responsible for the quality of the mulch that gets laid and they’ll be held accountable by us,” he said.

Read also: Scientists confirm record highs for three most important heat-trapping gases

He said there was no evidence that mulch producers were introducing contaminated building materials but said it was under investigation.

“We can assure you that the mulch producers appear to have a clean bill of health,” he said. “It’s really about the widespread use of asbestos in building the last four years or 40 or 50 years up until 1990.

Pendrigh said that the EPA was investigating the possibility of illegal dumping and said there had been a recent increase in this activity. He said the EPA was also investigating the supply chain of contaminated mulch and companies that construct and demolish parks, as well as council oversight of this.

Speaking further, he said he was confident asbestos discovery in Victoria would not be as widespread as New South Wales, where bonded asbestos has been discovered at more than 75 sites, including parks and schools, stressing the risk of harm was low and only minor amounts of contamination had been uncovered in Hobsons Bay.

But he also said that as a precaution, the EPA has asked the council to fence off areas where contamination was discovered.

Story was adapted from the Guardian.

AsbestosEPAMelbourneWarning
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
Scientists confirm record highs for three most important heat-trapping gases
next post
Report: World’s biggest economies pumping billions into fossil fuels in poor nations

Related Posts

Scientists say nearly 40% of the world’s glaciers...

June 3, 2025

German court dismisses climate case against RWE

May 28, 2025

WHO Climate Change action plan approved

May 28, 2025

Report: World likely to breach 1.5°C limit in...

May 28, 2025

At Bonn climate talks, Brazil demands early deals...

May 23, 2025

Guterres raises alarm over rapid Himalayan glacier melt

May 17, 2025

Study shows two-thirds of global warming caused by...

May 8, 2025

Weather expert warns climate change to hit agriculture...

May 5, 2025

Trump dismisses authors of major climate report

April 30, 2025

New UN report shows Indigenous Peoples sidelined in...

April 25, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World