Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has issued Melbourne Water with a notice requiring it to assess and manage a sediment stockpile in Stony Creek Reserve, Yarraville.
The notice follows EPA sampling of sediment found traces of asbestos. Routine sampling by Melbourne Water also found lead, zinc and hydrocarbons consistent with urban catchments.
Melbourne Water has fenced the stockpile and begun further testing to assess management options.
Detected asbestos is not in a respirable form and air monitoring confirmed asbestos was below detectable limits. Independent testing has advised that the risk to human health is negligible to low.
The sediment was dredged from the creek by MW as part of routine maintenance.
Earlier in December, EPA issued a notice on Melbourne Water requiring it to remove another sediment stockpile in the Stony Creek catchment, which also had traces of asbestos; the stockpile has now been removed.