Concerned residents fear they’ve been potentially exposed to asbestos that was allegedly illegally dumped in Sydney’s west.
Young children may also be at risk as the asbestos was dumped next to daycare centre Little Zak’s Academy.
Shocked residents say they were unaware of the danger until a letterbox drop of homes at Jordan Springs, near Penrith raised the alarm on Friday, 9 News reported.
Workers were at the Jordan Springs site on Saturday to clear the illegally dumped asbestos
A ‘small amount’ of asbestos was illegally dumped next to daycare centre Little Zak’s Academy, which has been operating since 2014
The letter from Lendlease stated contractors had identified ‘small amounts’ of bonded asbestos within the dumped soils.
‘While the material does not represent a risk to the public, the safety of residents and secure removal of asbestos is our number one priority,’ the letter states.
‘The affected area is fenced off. The soils will be removed in accordance with strict statutory and regulatory requirements.’
Some residents claim they didn’t receive the letter.
‘It’s very concerning – really concerning,’ Wendy James told 9 News.
Dane Wellard added: ‘I thought this is just a cover up. This is just a stitch-up saying it’s someone else’s fault.’
‘While the material does not represent a risk to the public, the safety of residents and secure removal of asbestos is our number one priority,’ the Lendlease letter to residents states.
Lendlease owns the fenced-off vacant land where the soil was allegedly dumped.
It also recently completed the construction of the neighbouring Jordan Springs Community Hub.
The new facility was a joint initiative between Penrith Council and Lendlease and is yet to open its doors.
Penrith Council wouldn’t comment while Lendlease refused to reveal to 9 News when the alleged illegal dump was discovered.
‘Small amounts of asbestos-contaminated material were identified in the dumped soils. The asbestos was identified as bonded, not airborne, and this type of asbestos poses a lesser risk to the community,’ the Lendlease statement said.
The affected site was near homes, a daycare centre and a recently completed community hub