The opening of a new playground at Tom Perrott Reserve in Mosman Park has been delayed after contractors discovered contaminated soil containing arsenic during construction.
Workers noticed discoloured sand while installing shade support beams and immediately alerted the council. Mayor Paul Shaw said samples were taken for testing, and one returned elevated levels of arsenic, a toxic element naturally found in the earth's crust.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation ordered the removal of the contaminated sand, which has now been completed. The council scrapped plans to use sand as the playground's soft base, opting instead for rubber softball. The cost of analysis and removal is estimated at over $20,000.
Mayor Shaw expressed confidence that all risks have been eliminated, 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 some may view the response as overly cautious but defended the approach as necessary.
The reserve is located on land formerly used for fertiliser works and metal-processing industries, which left behind heavy metal contamination. Previous soil removal occurred during housing development in the area. Despite the delay, the council hopes to open the playground before Christmas.
