The asbestos crisis in Sydney keeps growing, as five more sites spread far and wide across the city have been confirmed as contaminated.
In addition to the new locations, the City of Sydney Council reported one sample of friable asbestos and several samples for bonded asbestos in mulch at Bicentennial Park, Glebe, in the Inner West.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is awaiting details of the Glebe test results and council has fenced off the impacted area of the popular parkland.
Friable asbestos is deemed high risk by NSW Health, as it can be crumbled or reduced to a powder by hand pressure.
Precautionary testing will also begin at four hospitals, including Westmead Hospital, Sydney Children's Hospital, Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital and Nepean Hospital, as well as two ambulance stations, in Tumut and Woy Woy.
Impacted areas at those sites will be cordoned off, health officials said.
The five latest locations to test positive to bonded asbestos include North Rosebery Park, in Sydney's south, a private aged care facility in St Ives, Mary Mackillop Catholic Parish in Oran Park, an industrial area in Rouse Hill and a private property.
There are now a total of 47 positive sites in Greater Sydney.
Officials are still waiting for test results from two schools, Mount Annan Christian College in Currans Hill and Trinity Catholic Primary School in Kemps Creek.
Asbestos investigation schools list:
Bonded asbestos detected in mulch:
- Allambie Heights Public School, Allambie Heights (school remains open, small isolated garden fenced off)
- Domremy College, Five Dock (school remains open, site isolated and cordoned off)
- Liverpool West Public School, Liverpool (school open at different site)
- Penrith Christian School, Orchard Hills (school remains open, site fenced off)
- St Luke's Catholic College, Marsden Park (the school has made the decision to close for the week with parents being notified)
No bonded or friable asbestos detected in mulch:
- International Grammar School, Ultimo
- North Sydney Public School, Waverton
- St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Daceyville
- Westmead Christian Grammar School, Westmead
- Edmondson Park Public School, Edmondson Park
Tested and awaiting results:
- Mount Annan Christian College, Currans Hill
- Trinity Catholic Primary School, Kemps Creek
