An interim environmental report commissioned by the City of Greater Bendigo has indicated the presence of non-friable asbestos at Ross Park, Kennington, following initial detection in late January.
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City of Greater Bendigo Presentation and Assets director Brian Westley said the health risk to the general public from non-friable asbestos is extremely low.
"Non-friable asbestos means when dry, it may not be crumbled, pulverised or reduced to powder by hand pressure like some materials containing asbestos that have been mixed with cement or other hard bonding materials," Mr Westley said.
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"Asbestos is dangerous when fibres are inhaled, although non-friable asbestos is bound and not commonly released into the air."
Non-friable asbestos may become friable as a result of work processes over time, such as degradation due to chemical exposure or damage by fire, according to the WorkSafe website.
An unidentified hazardous material was discovered at the Steane Street recreation space on January 25, with council confirming the presence of asbestos on January 29.
Definitive laboratory results remain pending, while council has also commissioned an air-quality survey.
"The environmental hygienist's investigations found there was no material within close proximity of the actual play space, although materials containing asbestos were scattered across the reserve," Mr Westley said.
"It is most likely that the asbestos is a decades old legacy issue."
The site has been fenced off and remains closed, to prevent access, with the EPA and WorkSafe notified about the presence of asbestos.
