“EPA is in contact with Hobsons Bay City Council over reports of mulch at Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood that may possibly contain demolition building materials,” an EPA spokeswoman said.
“EPA has visited the site and is satisfied with the council’s actions.”
The park is relatively new, having opened in April last year as part of the West Gate Tunnel Project in partnership with the council.
EPA inspectors combing much at Donald McLean Reserve in Spotswood on Tuesday.Credit: Justin McManus
Melbourne father Jason Murphy, who initially reported the suspicious materials the after visiting the park, said he saw insulated wires, chunks of brick and concrete, plywood of various kinds, bits of wood with nails in it as well as a chunk of unknown composite material.
“My kids were playing here and I was sitting under the tree when I noticed wood with nails in it and a lot of other stuff that was very surprising to find in that environment. The material should not be in mulch or tanbark at children’s playgrounds,” he said.
“Just imagine how horrified you’d feel if you saw your kid put this in their mouth. It’s a dereliction of the duty of care of everyone involved. This new playground is a fantastic asset but I won’t be taking my kids back there until the problem is solved.”
The playground has also been closed.
Separately on Wednesday, the EPA warned Victorians should avoid mulch advertised on Facebook marketplace and Gumtree, after asbestos was found in free mulch given to a resident in Melbourne’s east.
After the recent asbestos mulch scandal in NSW and Queensland, Victoria’s EPA revealed it was investigating the source of mulch given away for free last year to a Heathmont resident that included asbestos and other industrial rubble.
“I urge the community to watch out for anyone offering garden mulch who can’t demonstrate they follow appropriate high standards and quality checks to avoid contamination,” said the EPA’s director of regulatory services Duncan Pendrigh. “If the offer seems too good to be true, be wary of it.”
The Heathmont resident reached out to the EPA following the NSW mulch crisis.
The agency said it had proactively inspected 59 commercial mulch producers across the state throughout March and no asbestos was found in any garden mulch being sold, although six operators were given warnings to increase their controls to prevent contamination from occurring.
Victorians are being warned to only buy mulch from reliable sources after asbestos was found in mulch being given away for free.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Last week parents from the Upwey High School and Upwey Primary School community were told asbestos may have been found on a freshly redeveloped school oval in Melbourne’s outer east after state railway corporation VicTrack used the site as a temporary car park.
The NSW contamination crisis prompted Queensland authorities to carry out proactive testing to find asbestos traces at a dog park and a state school.
Victoria’s EPA said it had taken eight matters to court in the 2022-2023 financial years due to the mishandling of asbestos.
“In the current financial year, EPA has taken legal action in two criminal and two civil matters so far. Businesses found guilty of mishandling asbestos can incur penalties of up to $2 million,” a statement said.
Source Agencies
