The reopening of all ACT public schools remains uncertain as asbestos removal teams work tirelessly to clear contaminated coloured sand from eleven remaining sites, a process that could take several more days.
Round-the-Clock Cleanup Operation
Seven specialist companies are currently deployed across the territory's education facilities, with three focused on asbestos removal and four conducting assessments. Education director general Jo Wood confirmed crews are working around the clock to address the contamination caused by recalled coloured sand products found to contain chrysotile asbestos.
Ms Wood explained that while the directorate has implemented improved processes and is grouping schools geographically to save time, progress remains slow. The cleaning of the next 11 schools could take several more days, she stated, unable to confirm whether the work would be completed by the weekend.
Complex Cleanup at Evatt Primary
The situation at Evatt Primary School demonstrates particular complexity, where students had used the contaminated coloured sand in an outdoor sandpit. This required the complete removal of all sand from the facility, a more extensive process than at other schools where contamination was primarily found indoors.
Multiple asbestos removal staff were observed at Evatt Primary throughout Tuesday morning, manually digging out sand and sealing it in bags for safe disposal.
Partial Reopenings and Alternative Learning Spaces
While eleven schools remain completely closed, others have implemented creative solutions to maintain education continuity. Some schools have reopened with minimal disruption, needing only to block off storage rooms containing the recalled product.
In more affected institutions, students are conducting lessons in alternative spaces including libraries, gyms, and other available areas. Education Minister Yvette Berry revealed that school clearance notifications came throughout the night, with the latest approval received at 1am Tuesday.
Black Mountain School, which underwent a two-and-a-half-hour cleanup operation on Monday, received its clearance after assessors worked into the evening. The school will reopen on Wednesday, November 19.
The ACT government has been consulting with counterparts in Tasmania and Queensland about the emerging crisis. Ms Berry emphasised the importance of information sharing between states as they address the nationwide coloured sand recall.
The ACT's approach to asbestos management differs from other jurisdictions, requiring assessment by licensed professionals rather than the "competent persons" accepted in some other states.
