A daycare centre in Perth’s southern suburbs has been forced to close its doors after asbestos from a nearby demolition site landed in the centre’s garden, impacting the air quality.
Parents were notified the centre would be closed on Wednesday morning, pending further testing, after an initial test within the Fremantle Early Learning Centre returned positive for asbestos air fibres.
“An air quality assessment undertaken by SW19 on behalf of the Department of Communities included testing conducted at the centre last night,” an email to parents from the centre said.
“As the testing occurred while routine cleaning was underway, the results were inconclusive and further testing is required while the centre is unoccupied.
“As a precaution, we have been asked by SW19 to close the centre today as a precautionary measure. We were informed early this morning that this testing is required.
“We sincerely apologise for the late notice of this communication and the inconvenience caused.”
It has not yet been confirmed whether the second test returned a positive result.
Parents at the centre were told that a lump of asbestos was found in the garden on Monday.
The daycare centre is surrounded by a development site, which was formerly community housing.
It is being transformed into a new residential development precinct that will accommodate 700 new homes, including commercial and public spaces.
Development WA undertook hazardous materials surveys and engaged a licensed asbestos removal contractor to carry out the removal of identified asbestos before demolishing the site.
It has also commissioned an independent environmental hygienist and installed an air monitoring system, including one on the boundary with the daycare centre.
Fremantle Early Learning Centre was also provided with advice on the demolition and asbestos removal.
A Department of Communities spokesperson said they were a “small fragment containing asbestos was found in an outdoor play area at an early learning centre in Fremantle”.
“The immediate focus is the health and wellbeing of the children who access the centre, staff and their families,” they said.
“An investigation is underway to determine how the material was present at the centre, and to ensure any further risks are immediately identified and mitigated.”
They said that initial expert advice was that this was a low-risk exposure because the asbestos was bound within cement material and was unlikely to have become airborne.
The Department of Communities, managing the incident on behalf of the childcare centre, said the service has been temporarily closed as a precaution and that parents were being informed of any updates.
Holly Thompson is a journalist with WAtoday, specialising in education and the environment.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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