Penrith Council has closed the Jamison Park Dog Park after an asbestos scare.
“Council staff have been notified of fragments of building waste that may contain suspected asbestos containing material (ACM) in Jamison Park Dog Park,” Council said on its website.
“As soon as the suspected ACM was discovered, Council staff immediately implemented strict procedures to make the area safe.
“The park was recently assessed by an independent SafeWork NSW licensed asbestos assessor who issued a clearance certificate for the site and declared it safe. Air monitoring was also undertaken in line with SafeWork NSW requirements and these results confirmed there were no concerns regarding airborne asbestos fibres from the site impacting the community.
“Non-friable asbestos in good condition does not pose a health risk as the asbestos fibres are bound together, however, Council views any asbestos contamination as a serious matter.
“Despite the site being declared safe, in the interests of public safety, Council has decided to close the dog park temporarily and engage a qualified consultant to undertake further investigations across the park. This investigation will provide a better understanding of any potential sub-surface concerns that may exist.
“We believe that this proactive step is the best approach to ensure the long-term safety of the site for all park users and Council workers.
“The park will be fenced off with warning signs and information relating to the remediation plans will be placed around the park. Please note that the consultant has raised no concerns with other areas in the Jamison Park precinct.
“While these further investigations take place, a smaller, temporary dog park will be provided immediately to the south of the existing park and will be available for the community’s use. Council has a number of other dog parks across the local government area if you decide that you would like to take your dog to an alternative dog park.”
