Malkara Specialist School will remain closed for the rest of the week. Photo: Google Maps.
The ACT Government has backtracked on a plan to reopen Malkara Specialist School in Garran after new and “extensive” contamination from asbestos-tainted play sand was discovered across its outdoor areas.
Families were previously told they could return on Thursday morning (20 November), only for the situation to change when they turned up to drop off their children.
Education Minister Yvette Berry said the discovery at Malkara only became clear when staff arrived early to prepare the site for students.
“Unfortunately, the school’s going to need to be closed after further contamination from the sand product was found in outside areas, and it was quite extensive,” she said.
“It wasn’t known when the first visual exercise was done … and was only identified after teachers and staff turned up. That meant that some children who use the outdoor spaces more than normal in a school environment … needed to go back home.”
Staff kept a small number of students on-site for the rest of the day, but parents were soon advised that the school would not reopen until next week.
It’s the latest twist in a saga that began nearly a week ago when an ACCC recall revealed that a popular brand of coloured play sand – used widely across ACT public schools — may contain traces of tremolite asbestos.
The products – Kadink Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand and Creatistics Coloured Sand – have been sold nationwide since 2020, but traces of asbestos were discovered by chance during staff training in an Australian lab late last month.
The results were then confirmed by a Brisbane lab, but only became public after the lab’s manager mentioned them in a podcast interview. The ACCC has since traced at least some of the contaminated sand to a quarry in China, with investigations ongoing.
Certain coloured play sand products from Kmart, Target and Officeworks have been recalled due to concerns they contain asbestos. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
The government maintains the risk is “very low” but said the nature of the ACT’s legislation has compelled them to shut more than 70 schools – either fully or partially – to allow certified asbestos removalists to work around the clock, bagging up the offending sand and any contaminated items.
Ms Berry acknowledged the frustration and disruption for families and said communication throughout the sudden recall “hasn’t been as good as we would have liked”.
“We’ve learned from that and we’ll continue to work with our communities … We’re asking parents and families and school staff just to hang with us for that little bit longer as we work through this process.”
Education director-general Jo Wood said Malkara’s internal learning spaces had been cleared, but the outdoor contamination was far more widespread than first thought.
“When staff turned up at school, they realised that the school playgrounds and areas were quite widely contaminated with the sand product,” she said.
“That meant that children couldn’t safely use those areas until they were completely cleared and the product eliminated.”
At this stage, Ms Wood said no airborne fibres had been detected at any school, with more detailed laboratory testing of the sand itself is still underway.
“So far, all of those airborne tests have come back negative,” she said.
“We have taken samples from every school … but those results take a little longer.”
The directorate has reopened most affected schools, with 76 now fully operational, 13 partially reopened, and three still closed – including Malkara and Neville Bonner Primary.
Neville Bonner remains shut after additional contamination was found during remediation.
“There is quite a bit more contamination that needs to be addressed before it can be certified,” Ms Wood said.
Yvette Berry and Jo Wood. Photo: James Coleman.
In the meantime, Ms Wood said online learning has been made available to parents, but it’s not required.
“The directorate has updated its website information … that we utilised during COVID,” she said.
“It’s not a requirement – we’re not requiring education to occur during this period of time, and I think everybody will be okay.”
The directorate has also developed resources for teachers to help explain the situation to students when they return, with a particular focus on specialist schools.
The government said it is nearly through the mammoth task of assessing all ACT public schools, clearing sites, issuing certificates, notifying WorkSafe and coordinating communication with families.
“We’re almost there … I’m looking forward now to being able to have some positive news,” Ms Wood said.
The full list of schools – open and closed – is available from the ACT Government.
