ACT Closes Over 20 Public Schools Over Asbestos Concerns in Play Sand

Fencing and warning tape seen around playground equipment at a park where asbestos has been found at Hosken Reserve in Coburg North, Melbourne, Australia, on April 5, 2024. AAP Image/Joel CarrettMore than 20 public schools in the ACT have been shut—some entirely, others partially—after authorities confirmed that coloured sand used in classrooms may contain asbestos, triggering an immediate safety response and urgent communication to families.The closures came just days after Australia’s consumer watchdog recalled several brands of children’s craft sand found to contain tremolite asbestos.