Transport for NSW and Sydney Metro update on further testing for asbestos in landscaping at construction sites

Transport for NSW is continuing to review and conduct targeted testing for asbestos at project sites where landscaping work was carried out using recycled mulch in the past year, in response to the recent detection of bonded asbestos within recycled mulch at the Rozelle Parklands. 
Transport has today fenced off two garden beds within the Nowra Bridge project site after bonded asbestos fragments were found within recycled garden mulch at the site. 
Following visual inspections of the sites last week, samples were taken, with some of these returning positive results for traces of bonded asbestos today. 
Transport is working with project contractor Fulton Hogan to prepare a remediation plan to safely remove the material from the project site and to determine if the product used at the site has been used at any other locations. 
All impacted garden mulch at the site will be replaced. 
Sydney Metro is also continuing to work with its contractors to review sites where landscaping work has recently been completed, including at future Southwest Metro stations and services building sites along the T3 Bankstown Line. 
Positive traces of bonded asbestos were identified today at: 

• Belmore Station in a landscaped area adjacent to the car park on Tobruk Avenue and at the Belmore metro services building, 200 metres from Belmore Station. 
• Punchbowl Station in the rail corridor, in landscaped areas near the station entry on The Boulevarde and at the Punchbowl metro services building, 150 metres from Punchbowl Station. 

The affected areas are fenced off and are not accessible to the public. 
All asbestos found is bonded asbestos, which is considered low risk compared to friable asbestos. 
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has been notified of all positive results across Transport sites. 
The health and safety of the community and our workforce remain our highest priority.