News

Want answers over asbestos

ALMOST four months after asbestos was located at Wiley Park, the fenced off area has finally been reopened.

However, Roselands Ward Councillor Karl Saleh OAM is fired up about the asbestos find – one of several in the area – and is demanding answers from Transport for NSW (TfNSW).
Bonded asbestos was found in mulch at the TfNSW project site on the corner of King Georges Road and Canterbury Road at Wiley Park on Thursday, February 15, and at Canterbury and Campsie Metro Traction Substation Sites in late January, before traces of asbestos were identified at Hurlstone Park, Wiley Park, Belmore and Punchbowl stations.
Cr Saleh has called for a detailed report from TfNSW of what they found and what action was taken and what risks, if any, the community has been exposed to.
“They need to provide the council with a detailed report on this matter and they also need to inform the local community of what they found and what they did,” he said.
Cr Saleh said the contaminated sites had been fenced off and despite assurances, the sites posed no significant safety risk, TfNSW had not backed that up with any tangible evidence.
“Someone needs to be held accountable for this mess,” he said.
“They kept the community in the dark from day one and nothing’s changed.
“What have they got to hide and why aren’t the council and the community being told the full story.”
A spokesperson for TfNSW said the fencing was removed and the area returned to normal park access and use last week.
“Affected Sydney Metro sites are fenced off and are mostly located within the rail corridor, which is not accessible to the public,” the spokesperson said.
“Sydney Metro continues to work with the EPA and our delivery partners to ensure the safety of workers and the community.”.