Dozens of gardens to be taped off as asbestos scare widens

Dozens of garden beds across Sydney will be taped off as authorities test for asbestos-contaminated mulch in a process expected to take weeks.

The NSW government's newly launched asbestos taskforce met for the first time tonight as the number of parks and garden beds feared to contain the potentially dangerous substance rose beyond 70, amid fears it could rise beyond 100. See the full list below.

An investigation into supply lines likened to COVID-19 contract tracing is one of the biggest ever conducted by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.

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The new areas, including parts of tourist-friendly Barangaroo and Millers Point, will be taped off and marked by signage from tomorrow morning before testing begins.

The City of Sydney said it took everyone's safety seriously and urged people to stay away from the taped-off areas.

"We are testing these locations as we have identified through our delivery tracking that they may contain contaminated mulch," the council said tonight.

"We anticipate the testing of parks and garden beds will take several weeks.  

"If further asbestos is found, the area will be fenced and signs put up while clean-up takes place."

The contaminated mulch has made its way to private homes, the owners of some of which have been identified and notified as further testing is carried out.

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Environment Minister Penny Sharpe said the government's priority was to get to the bottom of the supply chain as quickly as possible.

"We should not be having asbestos in any of these products. It is illegal to do so," she said.

She said it was "perhaps the biggest investigation the EPA has ever been involved in" and likened the mulch's spread to COVID-19.

One supplier, the GreenLife Resource Recovery Facility, has been identified and banned from making any further sales while testing continues.

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According to the government another 30 distributors have on-sold the mulch, possibly to more than 100 sites.

EPA chief executive Tony Chappel confirmed some homeowners tested positive for having contaminated mulch in their yards.

It is believed it was received from a landscaping business down the supply chain.

As of tonight, garden beds in 38 locations and 33 parks were suspected of having contaminated mulch.

Greenlife Resource Recovery Facility has maintained its mulch is asbestos-free and is looking to appeal the EPA's ban in the Land and Environment Court.

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As a result of the wide-scale contamination, about 110 officials across several agencies were called in to assist in investigations.

The asbestos taskforce is chaired by NSW Asbestos Coordination Committee chair Carolyn Walsh and includes representatives from the premier's department, cabinet office, EPA, Safework NSW, Public Works Advisory and many more bodies.

Premier Chris Minns earlier this week said the contamination was "completely unacceptable".

Last month, ten tonnes of hazardous waste contaminated with asbestos was found in the Rozelle Parklands, which was shut to allow contractors to clean it up.

Details about the contaminated sites is available at the NSW EPA site, and information about the health risks can be found on the NSW Health website.

A criminal investigation is ongoing.

Asbestos has been found at several Transport for NSW sites, including Rozelle Parklands, and another seven sites across Sydney.

The full list as of February 15:

• Liverpool West Public School

• Harmony Park, Surry Hills

• Victoria Park, Camperdown

• Belmore Park, Haymarket

• Campbelltown Hospital

• Industrie Warehouse, Bankstown

• Rozelle Parklands

• Sydney Metro Sydenham to Bankstown Railway Corridor

• Parramatta Light Rail 

• Prospect Highway Interchange 

• Nowra Bridge Upgrade

• Regatta Park, Emu Plains

The full list of garden beds to be tested:

• Annandale – Chapman Road (southern side of the road) from The Crescent to end of Chapman Road cul-de-sac 

• Annandale – The Crescent (eastern side of the road) from Johnstons Creek Canal to Scotsman Street 

• Annandale – The Crescent roundabout garden at corner of The Crescent and Nelson Street 

• Barangaroo – Towns Place roundabout garden at corner of Towns Place and Dalgety Road 

• Camperdown – Alexandria Drive (both sides of the road) between Sterling Circuit and Lyons Road 

• Camperdown – Booth Street (eastern side of the road) on road bridge over Johnstons Creek Canal 

• Camperdown – City Road (eastern side of the road) at the corner of City Road and Myrtle Street 

• Chippendale – Rose Street (both sides of the road) between Myrtle Street and Paints Lane 

• Chippendale – Shepherd Street (both sides of the road) between Knox Street and Broadway 

• Forest Lodge – Cullen Close (both sides of the road) from Ross Street to end of Cullen Close cul-de-sac 

• Glebe – Catherine Street (northern side of the road) at intersection with Westmoreland Street 

• Glebe – Cowper Street (both sides of the road) at intersection with Glebe Street and Franklyn Street 

• Glebe – Derby Place (both sides of the road) between Glebe Point Road and Derwent Lane 

• Glebe – Eglinton Road (both sides of the road) between Glebe Point Road and Northcote Road 

• Glebe – Elger Street (northern side of the road) between Cowper Street and Bay Street 

• Glebe – St Johns Road (southern side of the road) between Glebe Point Road and Campbell Street 

• Glebe – St Johns Road (southern side of the road) between Campbell Street and Glebe Street 

• Millers Point – High Street (eastern side of the road) at the corner of High Street and Argyle Lane 

• Millers Point – Kent Street (both sides of the road) at the corner of Kent Street and High Street 

• Millers Point – Lower Fort Street (northern side of the road) between Windmill Street and Downshire Place 

• Millers Point – Lower Fort Street (northern side of the road) between Downshire Place and Cumberland Street 

• Millers Point – Lower Fort Street (both sides of the road) between Argyle Place and Windmill Street 

• Pyrmont – Bowman Street (southern side of the road) between Tambua Street and Jones Street 

• Pyrmont – Harris Street (eastern side of the road) at corner of Pirrama Road 

• Pyrmont – Pirrama Road roundabout garden at intersection of Jones Bay Road and Darling Island Road 

• Pyrmont – Point Street (western side of the road) between Herbert Street and Bowman Street 

• Pyrmont – Pyrmont Street (western side of the road) at the corner of Union Street 

• Pyrmont – Saunders Street (eastern side of the road) 35 meters north of the corner of Saunders Street and Miller Street 

• Pyrmont – Union Street (both sides of the road) between Edward Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road 

• Surry Hills – Albion Street (southern side of road) at the corner of Albion Street and Belmore Street 

• Surry Hills – Foster Street (eastern side of the road) at the corner of Foster Street and Campbell Street 

• Surry Hills – Ibero American Plaza located north of Central Railway Station Chalmers Street entrance, near the corner of Chalmers Street and Randle Street 

• Haymarket – Elizabeth Street (western side of the road) between Eddy Avenue and Foster Street 

• Ultimo – Jones Street (both sides of the road) at the corner of Jones Street and Quarry Street 

• Ultimo – Mary Ann Street (both sides of the road) between Bulwara Road and Harris Street 

• Ultimo – Mountain Street (both sides of the road) at the corner of Mountain Street and Kelly Street 

• Woolloomooloo – Crown Street (eastern side of the road) at the corner of Crown Street and Sir John Young Crescent 

• Woolloomooloo – Sir John Young Crescent (both sides of the road) between Riley Street and Crown Street