Sue Savage Reserve

Project update - June 2025

During excavation works associated with the construction of the Sue Savage Reserve Multigenerational Recreational Facilities (new skate park, BMX pump track, fitness equipment, amenities - toilet - building, additional car parks, and park furniture), building waste was found in soil near the skate park.

While all technical investigations were completed prior to the start of construction, during excavation works, contractors found a small amount of ‘fibro’ material in soil beneath the grass.

‘Fibro’ was a building material used widely in construction in Australia (until 1990). It contained a mix of asbestos, cement, and other materials bound together to form a board.  It is still present in many Australian homes.

The find was within the construction compound and is being managed in line with relevant guidelines and requirements.

Health and safety

Asbestos can pose a risk to human health if its fibres become airborne and are inhaled or ingested.

To ensure the ongoing safety of park users, site workers, and the local community, City of Parramatta has implemented appropriate safety and environmental controls for the management of asbestos-affected soil.

Safety and environmental protection

These controls include:

• engaging a suitably qualified specialist contractor to oversee the remediation works
• creating an exclusion zone – the compound serves as an exclusion zone and the netball courts nearby have been closed as an added precaution
• securing affected soil stockpiles with protective coverings
• ongoing air-quality monitoring to confirm the effectiveness of safety controls
• using appropriate personal protective equipment for people working directly with the soil
• retaining existing fencing around the construction site
• capping the affected area (a permanent protective layer) to comply with SafeWork NSW and NSW Environment Protection Agency requirements.