Arsenic Discovery Halts Playground Construction
The highly anticipated opening of a new children's playground in Mosman Park has been unexpectedly delayed after workers made a disturbing discovery during construction. Contractors installing shade support beams at Tom Perrott Reserve uncovered soil contaminated with dangerous levels of arsenic, prompting immediate safety measures.
How The Contamination Was Uncovered
Mosman Park Mayor Paul Shaw explained that alert contractors noticed something unusual while digging to stabilise the playground's shade structure. Workers identified odd-looking sand with a distinct discolouration that raised immediate concerns. The contractors followed protocol perfectly, immediately contacting council officials who then collected sand samples for rigorous testing.
The laboratory results confirmed their worst fears when one sample returned with elevated levels of arsenic, a naturally occurring but highly toxic element that poses serious health risks, particularly in its inorganic form. The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation was notified and provided clear instructions that the contaminated material must be completely removed from the site.
Cleanup Efforts and Project Changes
Council crews have since completed the extensive removal process, with Mayor Shaw revealing the operation involved substantial quantities of sand. The environmental cleanup and associated testing will cost the community more than $20,000, representing a significant unexpected expense for the project.
In response to the contamination discovery, council has made important design changes to ensure child safety. Plans to use sand as the playground's soft-fall surface have been completely abandoned, with rubber softfall now being installed instead. This material provides better protection and eliminates any risk of future soil contamination issues.
Despite the construction setback, Mayor Shaw remains optimistic that the playground can still welcome children in time for the summer school holidays. "We're hopeful we can have it open before Christmas," he stated, while emphasising that public safety remains the absolute priority.
The Mayor offered strong reassurances to concerned parents, stating: "We've been as diligent as we can, and we're confident that any risk for children being in contact with the soil has been removed." He acknowledged that some might view their response as overly cautious but defended their thorough approach as necessary when dealing with potential environmental hazards.
The contamination discovery adds another chapter to the area's complex environmental history. The Minim Cove location was previously home to fertiliser works and metal-processing industries, operations that left behind soils with elevated levels of heavy metals. The area has undergone substantial soil remediation in the past during housing development projects, highlighting the ongoing challenges of repurposing industrial land for community use.
