Sydney asbestos crisis: EPA ‘following up’ on whether second mulch supplier is involved

A children’s playground and picnic areas fenced off at Bicentennial Park in Sydney. The EPA says it is looking at whether another supplier provided asbestos-contaminated mulch. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

A possible second supplier of asbestos-contaminated mulch is being investigated by the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority, as the number of contaminated sites rises to 61.

The environment watchdog said on Saturday it was “following up on a possible second supplier” that may have provided asbestos-contaminated mulch to at least two sites where the substance has been detected. The sites, both in western Sydney, were Cranebrook High School and Mont Saint Quentin Oval in Bardia.