Canberra Schools Gradually Reopen After Sand Contamination Crisis
More Canberra schools are set to reopen on Thursday, November 20, as cleanup efforts continue following the discovery of asbestos-contaminated coloured sand in playgrounds across the territory. ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry confirmed the progressive reopening during a press conference on Tuesday, with a final list of operational schools to be announced at 6pm Wednesday.
Containment and Cleanup Progress
The education directorate has contracted seven specialist companies to work across the ACT to clear affected schools of the potentially hazardous material. The situation has been improving daily, with the number of completely closed schools dropping from 70 on Monday to just 11 by Wednesday.
At Evatt Primary School, cleanup teams were observed removing contaminated sand from playgrounds on Tuesday after students had inadvertently mixed the recalled coloured sand with regular playground sand. Many schools are operating with partial closures while specific areas remain off-limits, with students temporarily relocated to libraries, gyms, and other safe spaces for lessons.
Minister Provides Assurance and Updates
Education Minister Yvette Berry expressed relief at the progress being made. "We'll keep the community up to date as we work through this process, and that, unfortunately, will still be several more days for some schools," Ms Berry stated.
The minister also confirmed that the ACT education directorate has been sharing information with other states as they begin their own testing and precautionary measures. Health authorities maintain that the risk of exposure to asbestos remains low and do not recommend clinical assessment for those who had contact with the sand.
Current School Status for Thursday
Schools remaining fully closed include:
- Gordon Primary School
- Isabella Plains Early Childhood School
- Latham Primary School
- Macgregor Primary School
- Mount Rogers Primary School
- Neville Bonner Primary School
- Ngunnawal Primary School
Schools reopening to all students on Thursday include:
- Evatt Primary School
- Kaleen Primary School
- Gowrie Primary School
- Macquarie Primary School
- Red Hill Primary School
- Wanniassa School
- Yarralumla Primary School
Several other schools will operate with partial openings, accommodating specific year groups while cleanup continues in certain areas. The government continues to provide regular updates through its education and training website as more schools are cleared for safe use by licensed asbestos assessors.
