A Catholic school in Sydney’s northwest will remain closed for a week while authorities remove an estimated 30 cubic metres of asbestos-contaminated mulch. Source: ABC News.
St Luke’s Catholic College in Marsden Park in the Parramatta Diocese, attended by about 2000 students, was closed last week while samples were being tested.
Those samples were confirmed yesterday to be contaminated with bonded asbestos.
“My understanding of that school is that there was something like 30 cubic metres of mulch that was provided,” Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said.
“So that’s quite an extensive amount and it’s quite widespread throughout the school, and that was difficult to cordon off and contain.”
Masses at St Luke’s Parish in Marsden Park were cancelled on the weekend as the school site was tested, according to a note on the parish website.
In January, a new park above the Rozelle Interchange in Sydney’s inner west was closed after asbestos was found in some mulch near the children’s playground.
The Environment Protection Authority has since launched the biggest investigation it has undertaken in decades. The EPA yesterday also confirmed asbestos at Penrith Christian School in Orchard Hills, taking the total number of sites in Sydney to 34.
Results are still pending for a number of schools, including Domremy College in Five Dock and Trinity Catholic Primary in Kemps Creek.
FULL STORY
Two more Sydney schools test positive to asbestos, one closes for week to clean up ‘30 cubic metres’ of mulch (By Sean Tarek Goodwin, ABC News)
How dangerous is the bonded asbestos found in mulch across Sydney? https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-25/bonded-asbestos-mulch-health-dangers-explainer/103384892 (By Marie Ford, ABC News)
St Luke’s Catholic Faith Community website (St Luke’s Catholic Faith Community)
