The annual Mardi Gras Fair, scheduled to take place this Sunday at Victoria Park in Camperdown, has been cancelled just days before the event due to the discovery of asbestos contamination at the site.
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The City of Sydney, organisers of the event, were informed earlier this week by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) of possible asbestos contamination in mulch at the park. Follow-up testing earlier this week returned positive results for bonded asbestos. Victoria Park is one of 22 Sydney parks found to contain asbestos-tainted mulch.
“On Monday 12 February, following advice from the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) about possible asbestos contamination in mulch, test results found bonded asbestos at Victoria Park,” the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras announced.
According to Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith, Fair Day is one of the festival’s most popular events, typically drawing over 70,000 attendees. Whilst it greatly saddens the organisation that they have to cancel the upcoming Sunday event, Beckwith stated that the community’s health and safety must remain the top priority in light of concerns over asbestos contamination at the planned venue.
“Our festival is still bursting with events ready to welcome and celebrate with our community. Oxtravaganza on 24 February is a free community event that shines a spotlight on our local Gaybourhood businesses, many of which were set to participate in Fair Day; and festival highlights, including Bondi Beach Party, Parade and Mardi Gras Party, remain unaffected,” said Beckwith.
Meanwhile, several parks across Sydney including Belmore Park in Haymarket and Harmony Park in Surry Hills, were also contaminated with asbestos.
Over the coming weeks, testing will occur at another 32 parks where the Council suspects the mulch product may have been used. Licensed removal crews are working quickly to clear contamination from these sites.
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Asbestos Task Force
The NSW government has created an Asbestos Taskforce to coordinate efforts across agencies to prioritise testing and remediation of sites posing the greatest risk from contamination. The taskforce aims to secure affected areas.
EPA stated that recycled mulch cannot contain asbestos or other pollutants. The EPA regularly audits mulch producers and suppliers, maintaining zero tolerance for asbestos.
In addition to scheduled compliance checks, the agency may conduct unannounced inspections of recycling facilities. Businesses or individuals allowing asbestos into reuse or recycling streams could incur fines up to $2 million.
Published 16-February-2024