Watchdog heeds call for Victorian asbestos 'task force'

Victoria's environmental watchdog has moved to set up a task force into a growing asbestos outbreak following mounting pressure. The Environment Protection Authority on Wednesday announced an "agency command team" will lead its response to potential asbestos contamination in mulch delivered to Melbourne parks and reserves. Environment protection officers, environmental and environmental public health scientists and specialist investigators will form part of the dedicated team. On April 9, Hobsons Bay City Council voted to write to Premier Jacinta Allan to urge the government to emulate NSW by setting up an asbestos task force. The NSW government announced the asbestos task force in February to support the state's environment watchdog after asbestos was found in mulch at Sydney's Rozelle Parklands. Seventy-five sites across the city ultimately returned a positive for asbestos following testing of 6500 tonnes of mulch. The Victorian government and EPA were resistant to the idea, with the regulator's Duncan Pendrigh declaring it did not need any more resources to address the issue. Testing has confirmed asbestos-containing material across nine Melbourne sites, including eight within the Hobsons Bay council area in the city's west. Investigations into sources of the contamination continue. "Small pieces of asbestos-containing material found so far in parks and reserves pose low risk," the authority said. "All asbestos found to date is bonded in cement and non-friable."