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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Matthew Kelly

New asbestos scare at Newcastle East Public School

Challenging: Friable asbestos was discovered during the replacement of the school's slate roof late last year.

Newcastle East Public School is the subject of another asbestos scare following the discovery of asbestos under the school's heritage building this week.

A contractor installing data cables under the sub-floor of Block A discovered multiple fragments of bonded asbestos.

While the area is not accessible to students and staff, it is unclear how long the potentially hazardous material had been there for.

A notification sent to parents on Thursday said the area had been isolated and students had been relocated to other rooms while testing occurred.

A Department of Education spokeswoman said the area would be remediated in accordance with the Department's asbestos management plan this weekend.

"All work will be completed by licensed and accredited asbestos contractors, and monitored by occupational hygienists in strict accordance with all applicable legislation, regulations, policies and guidelines," she said.

"Testing will be completed to ensure the area has been fully remediated, and the school will receive a clearance certificate before the area is open to students and staff."

The latest incident follows the discovery of friable asbestos material in the heritage building earlier this year.

The material is believed to have broken off a piece of Super Six sheeting that was discovered in the building's roof cavity during works to replace the slate roof last December.

The analysis of the material found in the classroom showed it contained chrysotile (white asbestos), amosite (grey asbestos) and crocidolite (blue asbestos).

Parents had raised concerns about the risk of asbestos contamination when the department advised it would replace the 1970s-era faux slate roof tiles during the upcoming school holidays.

Parents were not formally advised of the discovery until the start of term one this year.

The episode culminated with NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell travelling to the school to apologise to parents for her department's handling of the matter.

The state government committed in April to the removal of all known asbestos from the school by the end of 2020.


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