Key Points
- Asbestos-contaminated mulch has been detected at more than 30 sites across Sydney.
- Sydney Olympic Park has been cleared after precautionary tests ahead of Taylor Swift's concerts.
- Swift's Sydney concerts will kick off on Friday for four nights.
Sydney's Olympic Park has been given the all-clear after its grounds were tested for asbestos ahead of Taylor Swift's concerts.
The will kick off on Friday for four nights at Olympic Park's Stadium Australia and come amid that has forced the closure of some parks at schools in the city.
There were concerns a location at Olympic Park could also be affected. However, the NSW government had assured Swifites her concerts would proceed and any contaminated mulch would be removed ahead of them.
NSW Environment Protection Authority chief executive Tony Chappel said no contaminated mulch had been found at the venue after extensive testing.
"All of our tests at Olympic Park are negative, and I can say with certainty that the harbour city is ready to welcome Taylor Swift with open arms," Chappel told reporters on Sunday.
Bonded asbestos has been confirmed at two western suburbs schools, however: St Luke’s Catholic College at Marsden Park, and Penrith Christian School at Orchard Hills.
The former will close for a week while remediation work is carried out. The latter will remain open because "the affected area is out of touch with students and staff", Murat Dizdar, the NSW Department of Education secretary said.
Results are pending for Edmondson Park Public School, Mount Annan Christian College at Curran's Hill and Trinity Catholic Primary School at Kemps Creek, as well as in the inner west at Domremy Catholic College at Five Dock, Dizdar said.
It was identified at Liverpool West Public School in Sydney's southwest and Allambie Heights Public School on the city's northern beaches.
Liverpool West students have been offered in-person learning at Gulyangarri Public School, where Dizdar plans to visit on Monday.
Allambie Heights Public School remains open.
A fenced-off area at Sutherland Hospital will be subject to testing, after an earlier confirmation at Campbelltown Hospital.
Tests have returned 662 negative results since January, the Environmental Protection Authority said.
Chappel said the EPA is investigating how mulch became contaminated with asbestos and is yet to identify a definitive cause.
Dizdar said the education department rules did not permit the use of recycled mulch and said what had occurred was "a great shame".
"Our requirements are there shouldn't be recycled mulch and should not be mulch that has any remnants of any asbestos," he said. "
"That's illegal as far as I understand. What occurred here is a great shame."
- With the Australian Associated Press.
