Sydney playground at centre of asbestos mulch scandal closed again after timber found ‘bleeding black tar-like substance’

Salvaged railway timber removed for testing from Rozelle parklands, which was previously closed in 2024 when asbestos was found in garden mulchGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastParts of a Sydney children’s playground where asbestos was found in garden mulch in 2024 has been closed again, with authorities removing salvaged railway timber for testing.Areas of Rozelle parklands in Sydney’s inner west were fenced off on Monday, with a council notice advising: “Thank you for your patience while we work with the NSW government to carry out works.”“The rest of the park and playground are still able to be used and enjoyed,” the notice said.The parklands, built on the site of former disused rail yards by Transport for NSW as part of the multibillion-dollar Rozelle Interchange project, were closed in January 2024, shortly after opening, when asbestos was found in mulch. The parklands were reopened a few months later.The latest contamination risk at the playground was raised by the same member of the public who first alerted authorities to the presence of asbestos in 2024.The father in early 2024 told the department about the possible asbestos contamination after their child brought home mulch from the park.They raised fresh concerns in early March after reading a plaque at the playground, which stated that timber used to build play equipment was “salvaged from the Rozelle rail yards that formerly occupied this land throughout most of the 20th century” – including railway sleepers.The local resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said the timber “displayed visible black staining” and was “bleeding a black tar-like substance and emitted a strong, pungent chemical oily odour”.A 2016 transport department report on the former rail yards advised that “treated timber, including treated railway sleepers, must not be reused or recycled or used at the site”.The report said timber not treated with potentially harmful chemicals such as creosote or copper chrome arsenate would require further testing to be classified as “wood waste” rather than “building and demolition waste”.A quarterly update from the transport department on the Rozelle interchange project in August 2023 said steel rail tracks and timber sleepers from the former rail yard had been salvaged and refurbished to “celebrate the industrial history of the area”.“Timber will be used to create ‘balance beam’ play elements and walkways around play areas,” it said.The resident wrote an email to Transport for NSW in early March asking if the salvaged timber used in the playground had been tested for hazardous material. After following up, they received a message on 19 March, which advised that the department was looking into the issue.“Please be patient as this may take some time,” the department wrote.The concerned resident reported the potential contamination to the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) on 20 March, before writing to a senior transport official and the Inner West council last week.The transport department official wrote back to say the timber would be removed on Friday for testing. After returning on Sunday to find that only some had been removed, the resident again wrote to the official, who advised the remaining timber would be taken away within 48 hours – and it had been checked for signs of leaching.The member of the public took matters into their own hands, marking off the area with hazard tape from Bunnings, and sending a picture to the council. On Monday, the remaining timber walkways had been fenced off.A spokesperson for the Inner West council said they had contacted Transport for NSW immediately after being alerted to the potential contamination last week, offering to erect fencing and signage.“Unfortunately, fencing or removal were not carried out over the weekend, as had been committed to by Transport for NSW,” the spokesperson said.“That’s why yesterday [Monday] council workers installed fencing in the area while we wait for Transport for NSW to safely remove the timber and test it.“It’s important to note that no contaminant has been confirmed.”The EPA said it was notified about the potentially contaminated timber on 20 March. The watchdog, which is not conducting its own testing of the timber, said it had “reached out to Transport for NSW, who are investigating the community report”.A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said some timber had been removed “out of an abundance of caution” due to its condition and was being assessed. They said the salvaged timber was installed by a contractor during landscaping work.“Transport has been investigating this matter since it was raised and conducted a site investigation to collect samples and conduct preliminary testing of the salvaged timber.“Transport for NSW continues to investigate, including the source of the salvaged timber.”The Rozelle project’s joint builders, John Holland and CPB Contractors, have agreed to pay $150,000 to SafeWork NSW for worker training in safe asbestos handling after taking delivery of the mulch to the site.John Holland and CPB Contractors declined to comment on the timber being sent for testing.Do you know more? Contact penry.buckley@theguardian.com