Rozelle Interchange partners agree to pay $150k towards asbestos training

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has entered into a legally binding Enforceable Undertaking with the John Holland and CPB Contractors joint venture, which has agreed to pay $150,000 after mulch allegedly containing minor fragments of asbestos was found at the Rozelle Parklands in January 2024.

The money will be provided to SafeWork NSW to deliver more training to workers on the identification and safe handling of asbestos.

NSW EPA CEO, Tony Chappel, said this continues the action being taken by the EPA following its asbestos in mulch investigation, the largest investigation in the organisation’s history.

“While we acknowledge the joint venture did not produce the mulch, they delivered the Interchange project so had a responsibility to ensure that contaminated material was not brought onto the site as part of those works,” Mr Chappel said.

“It is vital that steps are taken to ensure compliance with the Mulch Order 2016 and Mulch Exemption 2016 and that any potential issues are proactively investigated.

“I’m pleased that as a result of this Undertaking, more people who work with asbestos sources will receive training which will minimise the risk of such materials contaminating recycling and waste streams.”

On 15 January 2024, the EPA issued a clean -up notice to Transport for NSW as owner of the Parklands to remove the contaminated mulch and dispose of it lawfully. The joint venture completed the clean-up by 18 April 2024.

This Undertaking is separate to the suite of prosecutions commenced by the EPA in December 2024 against three companies and one individual in response to its asbestos in mulch investigation, resulting in a total of 102 alleged offences. These prosecutions are currently before the courts.

An Enforceable Undertaking is a legally binding agreement between the EPA and a company or individual who has allegedly breached environmental legislation.