Around 70 Schools Closed in Canberra After Asbestos Traces Found in Decorative Play Sand

Nearly 70 schools in Australia’s capital region (the Australian Capital Territory) are being closed amid rising fears that decorative coloured sand used in children’s play settings may be contaminated with asbestos.

Authorities have ordered the shutdown as a precaution, launching inspections and clean-up efforts over the weekend.

The crisis followed a national recall by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) of several coloured sand products after laboratory tests found traces of chrysotile asbestos, a naturally occurring form of the mineral.

Among the recalled products are Kadink Decorative Sand, Educational Colours Rainbow Sand, and Creatistics Coloured Sand, distributed through major retailers. More recently, retailers Kmart and Target also issued a recall for additional products, including a 14-piece sand castle set and various “magic” sand tubs in blue, green, and pink.

In response, the ACT Education Directorate confirmed that 69 public schools will remain closed, while 23 others that have already been cleared of the sand are set to reopen.

Licensed asbestos removal contractors are being brought in to test, remediate, and certify areas before students can return. Visual inspections have been underway, with volunteers and school staff combing through classrooms, corridors, and storage areas to locate any remaining sand.

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry emphasized that the move is precautionary. She stated that while airborne asbestos has not been detected in the eight schools tested so far, closing the affected schools was “best practice in managing hazardous materials” and puts safety first. According to contractors’ air testing, all samples returned negative results so far for airborne asbestos fibres.

Health experts overseeing the situation say the risk to students and staff is very low. An epidemiologist from the Australian National University described the potential exposure as short-term and unlikely to result in inhalation of microscopic asbestos fibres unless the sand is crushed or pulverised. Air testing supports this assessment.

One school, Campbell Primary, has become the first to reopen since its closure. Officials say clean-up is progressing, but the remainder of the schools may remain shut for days as remediation continues.

Parents and staff have been kept informed via email, and the Education Directorate is updating communities regularly.

The situation has caused disruption and anxiety among families. Some parents have voiced frustration over the lack of certainty about how long closures will last, while others are calling for tighter regulations around imported children’s play materials. Meanwhile, education and health authorities say they are closely monitoring the situation and taking all needed precautions to safeguard school environments.

Sources: ABC News, The Guardian, AAP News,