Friable asbestos at one of five extra tainted sites

Friable asbestos has been found at a site in Sydney's inner west, as the crisis in NSW continues. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Friable asbestos has been discovered at one of five more contaminated Sydney sites as the investigation into tainted mulch distributed across NSW continues.

The NSW Environmental Protection Authority on Friday said friable asbestos had been confirmed at Wood St in Forest Lodge, in Sydney's inner west.

Friable asbestos can be reduced to powder by hand and may cause serious health problems if inhaled. It is more dangerous than bonded asbestos.

The latter has been found at the other four contaminated sites: Harold Park at Forest Lodge, Wentworth Park at Glebe, a Glenmore Park construction site and Cranebrook High School.

All sites have been fenced off to protect the public.

This brings the number of locations found to have asbestos-contaminated mulch to 59.

The EPA investigation began after bonded asbestos was detected in recycled mulch at the inner-city Rozelle Parklands in January.

The agency has been tracing and testing other locations where the suppliers of the tainted mulch deposited the material.

The EPA also said further testing at an Aldi supermarket at Cobbity in Sydney's southwest had confirmed friable asbestos.

Bonded asbestos had previously been confirmed at the site.

Six health facilities will have cordons removed from their gardens after testing negative for asbestos.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store