In August 2012 the City of Melville, West Australia, made a decision to close and fence off the Ogilvie Road Park in Mt Pleasant, Western Australia after asbestos was found at the park by the Health Department.
Four months after being closed the park has now been re-opened to the public with it being completely cleared of asbestos on 27 December 2012.
Although the Melville council was aware that the asbestos was not a major problem they believed it was important to perform a careful investigation of the park to ensure it was safe for the public.
The council was right to do so as there is no safe asbestos level and even minimal exposure can lead to an individual contracting an asbestos related illness such including pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma in Australia is a real problem, with Australia having one of the largest case load of mesothelioma per head of population. There are many people diagnosed with asbestos conditions in Australia each year.
