James Hardie Legacy Sites

• Experiment Farm – Stage 2 of footpath works and capping of affected areas of the reserve.  This will complete all necessary works at Experiment Farm - see Experiment Farm for more detail.
• Excelsior Reserve – Design and construction of Stage 1, capping of affected areas of the upper embankment and access track.
• FS Garside – Works anticipated via the North Granville Community Facilities Masterplan – see Participate Parramatta for more detail.

Works planned for 2021 include:

• Experiment Farm – Treatment of eastern area of Parkes Street footpath and finalisation of designs for treatment of Experiment Farm Reserve
• Barton Park – Completion of 2020 works program, including revisions to improve drainage and capping of remaining affected mound areas
• Excelsior Reserve – Further investigation into extent of asbestos materials in this location, with interim treatments to render to the site safe while permanent works are planned.

Works planned for 2020 include:

• Experiment Farm - further testing and the design of permanent treatments
• Dan Mahoney Reserve - community consultation regarding remediation and potential upgrades and managing interim treatments including returfing and temporary fencing
• Ponds Creek Reserve North - permanent treatment of affected sections of Ponds Creek Reserve North
• Barton Park - permanent treatment works including landscaping and a new footpath.

Treatment works are currently proposed in the following locations in 2019:

• Barton Park/PH Jeffery reserve
  • landscaping works including improvements to footpaths and car parking along Gladstone St
• Experiment Farm
  • archaeological and heritage studies
• Dan Mahoney Reserve
  • design and procurement of remediation plan for this site to improve or replace to existing capping layer.

For more information contact the project team 02 9806 5050.

In late 2018, Council contracted environmental testing at Dan Mahoney Reserve, Dundas Park and Doyle Ground. The site of the water playground at Dundas Park was not part of the suspected landfill site and no asbestos was found during the construction of the playground.

Air monitoring was carried out before, during and after testing at all sites and none of the park sites or neighbouring areas recorded airborne asbestos at any point.

At times environmental testing including soil sampling may cause some degree of disruption to facilities or services and concern within the community. However, it is important work that is conducted with the highest degree of health and environmental protection precautions – including air monitoring before, during, and after testing – to ensure public safety.

It is this testing, and the resulting laboratory reports, which allow City of Parramatta to plan for the ongoing safe management of these sites including future maintenance works in our parks and public spaces. Council will enact any precautionary measures including temporary closures where appropriate to ensure the immediate safety of the sites and on receipt of final reports will undertake scoping work to achieve long-term remediation of the site where required.

City of Parramatta will continue to take proactive action to address all identified and potential asbestos-related issues.

Current Status of 2018 Tested Sites

• Dundas Park and parts of Ponds Creek Reserve North, Dundas - Final report received
• Doyle Ground, North Parramatta - Final report received
• Dan Mahoney Reserve, North Parramatta - Final report received

• Barton Park and PH Jeffery Reserve, North Parramatta
  Following environmental testing, Council acted on specialist recommendations, closed parts of the site and undertook a $2m+ remediation program. The works included the installation of a geotextile barrier layer and 500mm of clean soil capping. During the 12-month program, additional upgrades included laying new sports-grade turf on the soccer field and extensive landscaping. New footpaths, drainage and irrigation systems were also installed. Areas of the park which had been closed for works re-opened in December 2018.
• Swann Reserve, Parramatta
  Council commissioned environmental testing and on receipt of the report closed the site to undertake a $400k+ excavation and remediation program. Works included installation of a geotextile barrier layer and 300mm of clean soil capping across the entire site. Upgrades included the installation of a shared cycle/pedestrian path to connect to the existing cycleway in the area. Swann Reserve was re-opened in 2018.
• Ruse Street Reserve, Harris Park
  Council commissioned testing and acted on specialist advice to close the site and undertake remediation to the Reserve and neighbouring nature strips and footpaths. A $450k+ works program included installation of a geotextile barrier layer and 300mm of clean fill across the reserve. Other park upgrades included improved pedestrian access, new fencing and landscaping treatments, and new turf. The reserve was re-opened in 2018.