Asbestos delays park reopening

ERIN PEARSON
DISCOVERY of more asbestos has again set back plans to reopen You Yangs Regional Park, according to Parks Victoria.
The park was due to reopen this month after six months of work to replace asbestos drainage infrastructure uncovered during heavy rains in January.
Authorities initially planned to reopen the park for Easter.
Parks Victoria’s chief Geelong ranger Siobhan Rogan said workers had discovered another three asbestos culverts in the park.
“The asbestos culverts are now being removed under strict Work Safe and EPA standards,” she said.
“Earthmoving machinery will also continue to operate as road works and car park upgrades progress on Great Circle Drive, the main access route within the park, for all of July.
“In the interests of public safety, the park is expected to re-open in stages from the second week of August.”
The clean-up has cost $1.5 million so far to remove about 80 tonnes of asbestos, replace 100 culverts and repair 25 kilometres of bike tracks.