The bacteria,which usually sit on the top of bodies of water left stagnant,appear blueish in colour. Not all forms of the bacteria are poisonous,but some can be deadly to animals that come into contact with affected water.
Rozelle Parklands was due to open on Tuesday,but blue-green algae have now been discovered in the wetlands within the park.Steven Siewert
Fences will be erected around the wetlands,which constitute a major portion of the nearly 10-hectare park in Sydney’s inner west,before the fences that surround the whole park are removed on Monday ahead of its Tuesday reopening. On Friday afternoon,a worker was seen taking samples of the affected water.
The wetlands are connected to the water treatment facility for the tunnels that sit beneath the park,and in the future will also be connected to the Western Harbour Tunnel.
“Contact with[blue-green] algae by recreational users can be harmful,” the CSIRO says on. “There have been reports of skin and eye irritations,nausea,vomiting,muscle weakness or cramps by some people who have swum through algal scum or swallowed it.”
Water affected by the blue-green algae in the wetland.Steven Siewert
In a statement,a spokesperson for Transport for NSW confirmed the discovery.
“Transurban is responsible for the wetlands and has a clean-up plan in place. They will be keeping Transport for NSW across progress,” the agency said.
“While the wetlands are not for swimming or recreational use,as a precaution,temporary fencing will remain in place around the affected area and signage will be erected to ensure everyone’s safety.”
Transurban said:“WestConnex,on behalf of Transport for NSW,has engaged an independent expert and is undertaking the necessary investigations to remediate the wetlands to treat this algae.”
Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne said his council was writing to Transurban to demand answers.
“We’re going to give them a deadline of Monday to provide information about how they’ve been testing and treating the water,and what the treatment plan is,” he said.
While Transport for NSW is yet to hand over control of the park to the council,Transurban will still be responsible for managing the wetland as it is “a pollution filtration system for the motorway”.
“We had kids exposed to asbestos,now dogs and wildlife[will be] exposed to blue-green algae,” the mayor said. “Do we have to go and test the soap dispensers in the toilet to make sure it’s not full of nuclear waste?”
Rozelle Parklands,which sits on top of the recently opened and,was after a child found bonded asbestos in the mulch around the children’s playground area.
While still potentially dangerous,bonded asbestos is unlikely to release the fibres that can cause the deadly asbestosis. Friable asbestos,which was found elsewhere,carries more exposure risk.
The discovery was the first of dozens of asbestos detections in open mulch across the state.
Asbestos-laden mulch is now also being discovered elsewhere in Australia,including in Victoria and Queensland.
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