Media releases

Updated statement on asbestos contaminated mulch

Published 14 February 2024

We take the health and safety of everyone in our city very seriously.

We will begin testing garden beds in 38 locations across our area where we believe asbestos contaminated mulch may have been used.

We have arranged for these areas to be taped off from Friday morning (16 February) and signs put up informing people about possible contamination before inspections are carried out.

This follows test results on Monday 12 February confirming asbestos in mulch at three City of Sydney parks.

We are also testing another 33 parks where we believe contaminated mulch may have been used.

Minogue Crescent Reserve in Forest Lodge has been added to the list of parks we are testing following new information that contaminated mulch may have also been used there.

We are testing these locations as we have identified through our delivery tracking that they may contain contaminated mulch.

We anticipate the testing of parks and garden beds will take several weeks.

If further asbestos is found, the area will be fenced and signs put up while clean-up takes place by licensed asbestos removalists.

We urge people to avoid taped off mulched areas in parks and mulched garden beds around their local area as this situation continues to evolve. We will share more information when it comes to hand.

Garden beds in the following locations will be tested in the coming weeks:

  • Annandale – Chapman Road (southern side of the road) from The Crescent to end of Chapman Road cul-de-sac
  • Annandale – The Crescent (eastern side of the road) from Johnstons Creek Canal to Scotsman Street
  • Annandale – The Crescent roundabout garden at corner of The Crescent and Nelson Street
  • Barangaroo – Towns Place roundabout garden at corner of Towns Place and Dalgety Road
  • Camperdown – Alexandria Drive (both sides of the road) between Sterling Circuit and Lyons Road
  • Camperdown – Booth Street (eastern side of the road) on road bridge over Johnstons Creek Canal
  • Camperdown – City Road (eastern side of the road) at the corner of City Road and Myrtle Street
  • Chippendale – Rose Street (both sides of the road) between Myrtle Street and Paints Lane
  • Chippendale – Shepherd Street (both sides of the road) between Knox Street and Broadway
  • Forest Lodge – Cullen Close (both sides of the road) from Ross Street to end of Cullen Close cul-de-sac
  • Glebe – Catherine Street (northern side of the road) at intersection with Westmoreland Street
  • Glebe – Cowper Street (both sides of the road) at intersection with Glebe Street and Franklyn Street
  • Glebe – Derby Place (both sides of the road) between Glebe Point Road and Derwent Lane
  • Glebe – Eglinton Road (both sides of the road) between Glebe Point Road and Northcote Road
  • Glebe – Elger Street (northern side of the road) between Cowper Street and Bay Street
  • Glebe – St Johns Road (southern side of the road) between Glebe Point Road and Campbell Street
  • Glebe – St Johns Road (southern side of the road) between Campbell Street and Glebe Street
  • Millers Point – High Street (eastern side of the road) at the corner of High Street and Argyle Lane
  • Millers Point – Kent Street (both sides of the road) at the corner of Kent Street and High Street
  • Millers Point – Lower Fort Street (northern side of the road) between Windmill Street and Downshire Place
  • Millers Point – Lower Fort Street (northern side of the road) between Downshire Place and Cumberland Street
  • Millers Point – Lower Fort Street (both sides of the road) between Argyle Place and Windmill Street
  • Pyrmont – Bowman Street (southern side of the road) between Tambua Street and Jones Street
  • Pyrmont – Harris Street (eastern side of the road) at corner of Pirrama Road
  • Pyrmont – Pirrama Road roundabout garden at intersection of Jones Bay Road and Darling Island Road
  • Pyrmont – Point Street (western side of the road) between Herbert Street and Bowman Street
  • Pyrmont – Pyrmont Street (western side of the road) at the corner of Union Street
  • Pyrmont – Saunders Street (eastern side of the road) 35 meters north of the corner of Saunders Street and Miller Street
  • Pyrmont – Union Street (both sides of the road) between Edward Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road
  • Surry Hills – Albion Street (southern side of road) at the corner of Albion Street and Belmore Street
  • Surry Hills – Foster Street (eastern side of the road) at the corner of Foster Street and Campbell Street
  • Surry Hills – Ibero American Plaza located north of Central Railway Station Chalmers Street entrance, near the corner of Chalmers Street and Randle Street
  • Haymarket – Elizabeth Street (western side of the road) between Eddy Avenue and Foster Street
  • Ultimo – Jones Street (both sides of the road) at the corner of Jones Street and Quarry Street
  • Ultimo – Mary Ann Street (both sides of the road) between Bulwara Road and Harris Street
  • Ultimo – Mountain Street (both sides of the road) at the corner of Mountain Street and Kelly Street
  • Woolloomooloo – Crown Street (eastern side of the road) at the corner of Crown Street and Sir John Young Crescent
  • Woolloomooloo – Sir John Young Crescent (both sides of the road) between Riley Street and Crown Street

For more information contact City of Sydney media team on mediateam@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9246 7292.