Sydney Schools Asbestos Cleanup
- St Luke’s Catholic College and Penrith Christian School are now part of the schools affected by asbestos-contaminated mulch.
- Four other schools are currently awaiting their test results.
- Since January 10, a total of 662 tests have come back negative.
One of the schools in Sydney’s northwest will be closed for a week as authorities work to remove approximately 30 cubic meters of asbestos-contaminated mulch.
St Luke’s Catholic College in Marsden Park, with an enrollment of around 2,000 students, had to shut down last week for testing.
The test results confirmed the presence of bonded asbestos in the samples taken from the school.
According to Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar, the school received around 30 cubic meters of mulch, which was found to be contaminated with asbestos.
This contamination is extensive and widespread throughout the school premises.
**Sydney Schools Asbestos Cleanup Update**
**St Luke’s Catholic College Closure Due to Asbestos Contamination**
St Luke’s Catholic College in Marsden Park will remain shut down as the removal of asbestos-contaminated mulch is underway. The closure is necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff during this cleanup process. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has identified asbestos at Penrith Christian School in Orchard Hills, bringing the total number of affected sites in Sydney to 34.
**Contaminated Area at Penrith Christian School**
The contaminated area at Penrith Christian School is currently inaccessible to students, but the school will continue to provide on-site learning. Meanwhile, the EPA has conducted tests at various schools, with International Grammar School in Ultimo and Westmead Christian Grammar School in Westmead testing negative for asbestos.
**Positive Asbestos Result at Liverpool West Public School**
Liverpool West Public School recently tested positive for asbestos and will remain closed for an additional two weeks. Students from the affected school will be temporarily relocated to nearby Gulyangarri Public School. On the other hand, precautionary testing at Sydney Olympic Park yielded negative results, adding to the total number of negative test results across the state, which now stands at 662 since January 10.
**Ongoing Testing at Several Schools**
Several schools are still awaiting test results, including Domremy College in Five Dock, Edmondson Park Public School in Edmondson Park, Mount Annan Christian College in Currans Hill, and Trinity Catholic Primary in Kemps Creek. Additionally, the EPA has identified an area at Sutherland Hospital for priority testing.
**Education Department’s Response**
Secretary of Education Murat Dizdar emphasized that only a small number of schools required testing for asbestos contamination. He highlighted the department’s efforts to communicate expectations regarding the use of mulch in construction projects to ensure safety standards are met. The department has issued safety alerts to government schools regarding mulch procurement.
**Allambie Heights Public School Asbestos Discovery**
Over the weekend, the EPA confirmed the presence of bonded asbestos in two trees and a garden bed at Allambie Heights Public School. The affected area has been secured, and remediation work is scheduled to commence promptly.
For more information on asbestos cleanup in Sydney schools, please visit our site 60time.com. Don’t forget to follow us on social media at [email protected] for updates.
