Asbestos removal begins at Ross Park

WORK is underway to remove asbestos from Ross Park in Kennington after the park was closed in January when the dangerous material was found scattered over the reserve.

City of Greater Bendigo presentation and assets director Brian Westley said the asbestos at the park is non-friable and may have been mixed with cement or another type of hard bonding material, meaning it is low risk to the public.

“Asbestos is dangerous when fibres are inhaled, although non-friable asbestos is bound and not commonly released into the air,” Mr Westley said.

Remediation works at the park will include the removal of visible asbestos as well as excavation of the soil near the basketball court, monitored by a soil hygienist expert.

Fresh soil, turf and new mulch will be brought into the park once the contaminated soil is removed.

Air monitoring systems will be used during the works, although an air-quality survey found the air in the park to be safe.

The work is expected to be completed by next month and the park open by mid-April.

“The City would like to thank the community for their patience and we’re looking forward to seeing children enjoying Ross Park in the near future,” Mr Westley said.

In February a report environmental hygienist found that there was no asbestos material found near the playground.

“Materials containing asbestos were scattered across the reserve,” Mr Westley said. “It is most likely that the asbestos is a decades old legacy issue.”