Asbestos discovered in Western Sydney playground - PENRITH Council warned
 Feb 25 2007 WorkCover NSW warned PENRITH Council in connection with the asbestos found in a reserve near some shops a week back. PENRITH Council was criticized that they failed to seal the area off.
The asbestos was found when workers uncovered a pit while extending a play area in Leonay Parade, Leonay. The material was decided to be covered up however, the Council failed to alert park users, residents and nearby businesses in Leonay Parade of the deadly substance.
The site was spreaded around with dirt and the nearby homes were coated with dust. The public members were left exposed to asbestos for 8 days before it was finally removed with orange para-webbing under instructions from WorkCover on February 7.
The nearby residents complained that none of the workmen were wearing masks or anything for their protection. "It's a real worry as there was dust flying everywhere with all the machinery – my back deck is covered," one of them told.
"I am concerned council have not told residents," said Edel Barth, an adjacent resident. She added that the Council should let them wash down their houses with water.
According to the Gazette who visited the site last week, fairly large asbestos pieces sitting exposed in the soil.
The residents received letters apologizing for any inconvenience from the Council only on last Thursday, 10 days after the asbestos was discovered.
Wendy Mackenzie, the spokeswoman of WorkCover said that they sent an inspector to the to the site and issued an improvement notice for the council.
Earlier this month a similar issue had been reported in North Strathfield where many children were exposed to the deadly asbestos from an adjacent demolition site. The site was shut down by WorkCover afterwards.
