Glass contamination on sporting grounds

Top soil contaminated with pieces of glass has been applied to at least two sporting grounds in Bunbury.

Bunbury City Council has closed sporting grounds at Forrest Park and Hay Park that have been covered with top soil applied by a contractor. At Forrest Park, the ground was covered with pieces of glass, some as big as a 10 cent piece.

The Times was easily able to find glass during a brief inspection this morning.

Marist Cricket Club, which uses Forrest Park for its games, was forced to clean-up the oval before play began on Saturday.

President Matt Arrowsmith told the Times that parents and club officials used buckets to pick up glass.

The club then alerted the council about the contamination.

Mr Arrowsmith said he had been told by the council that the glass would be removed by the end of the week.

“It is obviously disappointing,” Mr Arrowsmith said. “But the council didn’t do it on purpose.”

In a statement from the council, Mayor Gary Brennan said he was concerned for the safety of people using the affected grounds who may be unaware of the likelihood of materials in the top dressing that may cause injury.

Mr Brennan said it was “unacceptable that such materials were found in the mulch”.

“City staff have erected warning signs at the affected sites and are communicating with affected sporting clubs that regularly use Forrest Park and Hay Park,” it said in the statement.

“The City’s priority is ensuring the ovals are cleared of contaminants and work is under way to achieve that outcome.”