Source : Perth Now news
Renewed public safety concerns have been sparked as Linear Park at Mascot becomes the latest casualty in a series of asbestos-related park closures across Sydney.
The grassy walkway, running between O’Riordan St and Coward St, was fenced off to the public last week and decorated with asbestos warning signs.
Local residents, such as Brendan, have been left anxious about the safety of the area after the signs appeared suddenly and with no prior communication from authorities.
“I drive past there every day and I think on Tuesday or Wednesday, I’ve seen fencing go up and then they started putting asbestos signs on the fence itself and I’m thinking, ‘OK, what’s going on here’?” he told 2GB.
“On Friday, as I went past, there’s a truck parked in the park itself but there’s PVC piping on the ground so I don’t know what they’re actually doing.
“The issue I have is I’ve seen people walk through that park and I’m just wondering why they’re taking so long to identify it.”
Linear Park runs between two sizeable apartment complexes on either side.
It’s not the first time asbestos has been detected in the area. In 2018, Sydney Resource Management was appointed to undertake remediation and civil services on three parcels of contaminated land after heavy metal and asbestos were identified.
The parcels of land had a long history of fly-tip waste and uncontrolled fill importation due to the suburban renewal and high-density apartment construction occurring in the vicinity, SRM said.
It comes off the back of a local campaign to turn a section of the space into an off-leash dog area.
A concept design was presented to and approved by Sydney Water, which owns the park. Community consultation is expected to happen in the coming months – although plans may be hit with possible delays due to the presence of asbestos.
It is not the first public park to be closed down due to the carcinogenic minerals. Rozelle Parklands made headlines in January 2024 when asbestos was found in some mulch near the children’s playground – less than a month after it opened.
Transport for NSW confirmed at the time that traces of bonded asbestos, which is often mixed in cement, were tested by remediation experts.
The mishap lead to a widespread investigation, with traces also located at Bicentennial Park 1 and 2 in Glebe, Blackwattle Bay Park, Harmony Park in Surry Hills, Broadway’s Victoria Park and Belmore Park near Central Station.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority, Minister Penny Sharpe and Sydney Water have been contacted for comment.
