Asbestos-contaminated sand has now been detected at hundreds of sits across South Australia, including eight schools on the Eyre Peninsula.
The ACCC confirmed the coloured sand – manufactured in China – may contain naturally occurring tremolite asbestos, after the contaminant was identified during laboratory testing.
Two local schools have been found with the higher-risk “loose” sand: Miltaburra Area School and Whyalla Stuart Primary School.
The remaining six Eyre Peninsula sites contain “sealed” or “artwork” sand, including:
- Kimba Community Kindergarten – sealed
- Streaky Bay Area School – sealed
- Port Neill Primary School – sealed
- Hincks Avenue Primary School – sealed
- Cowell Area School – artwork
- Nicholson Avenue Primary School – artwork
SafeWork SA has assessed the situation as low risk, and all affected schools will remain open while specialist crews carry out the removal of the contaminated material.
A statewide clean-up is underway following the national recall of the sand product.
