Sydney Playground Sealed Off Amid New Contamination Concerns
Authorities have once again closed sections of a children's playground at Rozelle parklands in Sydney's inner-west, after salvaged railway timber was removed for urgent testing. This marks the second closure for the park, which was previously shut down in early 2024 due to asbestos contamination in garden mulch.
Timber Removal and Public Alerts
On Monday, areas of the playground were fenced off, with a council notice advising visitors of ongoing works in collaboration with the New South Wales government. The notice reassured that the rest of the park and playground remain open for public use. The decision to remove the timber came after a local resident raised alarms about visible black staining and a pungent chemical odour emanating from the salvaged railway sleepers.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the timber as "bleeding a black tar-like substance" and emitting a strong, oily smell. This individual had previously alerted authorities to the asbestos issue in 2024, after their child brought home mulch from the park. In early March, they noticed a plaque indicating the timber was salvaged from former Rozelle rail yards, prompting new concerns.
Historical Context and Regulatory Warnings
The parklands were developed on the site of disused rail yards as part of the multibillion-dollar Rozelle interchange project by Transport for NSW. A 2016 transport department report explicitly warned against reusing treated timber, including railway sleepers, due to potential hazards from chemicals like creosote or copper chrome arsenate. Despite this, a quarterly update in August 2023 highlighted that salvaged timber and steel rails were refurbished to celebrate the area's industrial history, with plans to use the timber for play elements and walkways.
After the resident emailed Transport for NSW in early March, the department responded on March 19, stating they were investigating the issue. The resident then reported the potential contamination to the NSW Environment Protection Authority on March 20, followed by communications with senior transport officials and the Inner West council. Transport for NSW committed to removing the timber for testing, but delays over the weekend led the council to install fencing on Monday as a precaution.
Official Responses and Ongoing Investigations
A spokesperson for the Inner West council confirmed they contacted Transport for NSW immediately after being alerted, but fencing and removal were not completed as promised over the weekend. The council emphasized that no contaminant has been confirmed yet. The EPA noted it was notified on March 20 and has reached out to Transport for NSW, which is leading the investigation.
Transport for NSW stated that some timber was removed "out of an abundance of caution" and is being assessed. They attributed the installation to a contractor during landscaping work and are investigating the source of the salvaged timber. The joint builders of the Rozelle project, John Holland and CPB Contractors, have previously agreed to pay $150,000 to SafeWork NSW for asbestos handling training, but declined to comment on the current timber testing.
The resident took proactive measures by marking the area with hazard tape and notifying the council, highlighting ongoing community vigilance in environmental safety matters.
