Despite Islington Park reopening to the public, nearby residents have expressed concerns about what they believe is an “inadequate response” from authorities to ongoing asbestos contamination.
After the devastating fire at the Wickham woolsheds on March 1, City of Newcastle closed Islington Park to enable specialist asbestos crews to remove fragments of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestance) vacuums.
City of Newcastle said an independent Licenced Asbestos Assessor inspected all areas of the park afterwards and found no visible asbestos remaining.
A clearance certificate was issued on March 13, and the park reopened.
“Air monitoring was undertaken during the clean-up and as part of the clearance inspection with all results coming back clear of airborne asbestos fibres,” a City of Newcastle statement read.
City of Newcastle warned that vehicles or falling trees could introduce the occasional fragment into the area.
However, some residents have said that the clean-up effort was still not good enough.
One Islington resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, has refused to visit the park with her young children despite its reopening.
“Everyone agrees that Islington Park isn’t being dealt with properly … it’s definitely not a thorough job,” she said.
“The school is being dug up and thoroughly cleaned, but that’s not the case for Islington Park, which is situated closer to the fire.”
The woman said her neighbours had encountered numerous asbestos pieces following the park reopening.
She said users were worried that when City of Newcastle resumed mowing and park maintenance services it would disturb dormant fibres.
When asbestos is disturbed, either in its natural form or in an asbestos-containing product, fibres can become airborne and easily inhaled.
Asbestos fibres may become trapped in the lungs causing many life-threatening diseases such as cancer.
“Parents particularly are really worried about it … people are really upset that not enough is being done for the health and safety of local people,” the Islington resident said.
She said residents held fears for potential recontamination of the park due to neighbouring roofs, roads and public spaces not being cleaned because of insufficient funding allocations.
“Residents want a removal of contaminated soil from the park and everybody’s roofs cleaned to stop recontamination, especially anytime the wind picks up.”
As for the neighbouring community, there have been calls for free testing of samples and the provision of social services such as counselling for impacted residents.
“It’s an environmental disaster. Residents want it to be declared a disaster zone so continuity of care can be applied across the whole affected area,” the resident said.
She said locals had taken it upon themselves to clean the area up by using domestic hoses and personally financing independent assessors to inspect homes.
“We’re all anxious about it, and people are really suffering,” she said.
“Instead of reaching out to authorities when we find something, the authorities should be more proactive in the clean-up and in asbestos education efforts.
“It was a couple of days before I knew the material was asbestos – I cleaned up what I thought was ash, then I heard about the asbestos.
“It was really upsetting – I’m not sure if I’ve exposed my family.”
She added that a lack of proactive or empathetic response had made the Islington and neighbouring community feel “isolated”.
After the community raised concerns, she said an EPA officer told residents it would “build resilience”.
“We’re just renting in Islington, and my husband and I have considered moving to another suburb,” she said.
“Not enough is being done, and the response has been inadequate.”
Conrad Curry Lawyers solicitor and fellow Islington resident, Katherine Fielden, said she had personally met with neighbours at Islington Park and found asbestos pieces between Morgan Street and the edge of the cricket ground.
“This is not safe or acceptable. Please call Newcastle Council, the EPA and DPWS to get our park cleaned up properly,” she said.
“My concern is also about the Department of Public Works and Services cost-cutting. They are responsible for the clean-up of homes and properties not owned by Council.”
She said that while the authorities were doing their best, an unprecedented asbestos contamination disaster required an appropriate response from City of Newcastle and other authorities.
“A response I would like to see is for authorities to close Islington Park and remove the topsoil and rubber soft fall mats in play areas and the mulch in garden beds.”
Fielden is pushing for a clean-up of property interiors within the affected zone and for authorities to conduct regular swab tests.
She said continual air monitoring and audits to track asbestos levels on the ground, within stormwater drains and in waterways was important.
“I want this to occur so if there are missed fragments in the clean-up that start recontamination, we can identify the source and contain the asbestos before it causes health injuries,” she said.
Fielden said she is also seeking further action and may explore the option of filing a civil negligence claim against the Wickam woolsheds developer, Investec.
“I think if it weren’t for the floods in the Northern Rivers, we would have seen the insides of our homes cleaned, our roofs cleaned and a commitment to ongoing monitoring via air quality monitors and random swabs,” she said.
“Instead, the best disaster response teams from the DPWS are in Lismore.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes responded to concerns on social media on March 15, assuring residents that the park would be reassessed.
“I’ve raised community concerns regarding reports of material still present at Islington Park with the Emergency Operations Centre team this morning,” she said.
“I’m advised crews are on site this morning to re-inspect and re-clean.”
City of Newcastle has urged community members to report further findings of fragments to the EPA’s environment line on 131 555.
Maia O’Connor