Public schools across Tasmania are gradually returning to normal operations after preliminary testing found no asbestos in recalled coloured sand samples.
Education Minister Jo Palmer said four schools fully reopened overnight, while 11 others shifted from full to partial closures as precautionary measures eased.
“Preliminary testing of physical sand samples from Tasmanian government schools has not indicated the presence of asbestos,” she said.
The closures followed an urgent product recall by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for children’s coloured sand found to contain naturally occurring asbestos.
Palmer said federal health authorities had confirmed the risk to human health was “very low”.
Licensed cleaning contractors have begun work at priority sites as part of a broader program rolling out across affected schools in the coming days.
Eight government schools remain fully closed on Friday and 18 face partial closures in areas where the recalled sand was used within the past week.
Catholic Education Tasmania has engaged specialist firm Prensa to carry out cleaning and testing at its schools ahead of Friday’s reopening of Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart, St Cuthbert’s and St John’s.
Executive Director Dr Gerard Gaskin said the early results were encouraging.
“We are grateful to our principals, teachers and office and school staff who have worked carefully to support this process and provide the information needed to move forward safely,” he said.
Several Catholic schools remain under full or partial closures while assessment and cleaning continues.
Palmer acknowledged the cooperation of families and staff throughout the disruptions.
“We will continue to support schools to return to normal operations as soon as possible,” she said.
Public schools fully open on Friday:
Campbell Street Primary School
Kingston Primary School
Lenah Valley Primary School
Mt Nelson Primary School
Mt Stuart Primary School
Princes Street Primary School
Sheffield School
Triabunna District School
Public schools fully closed on Friday:
Bagdad Primary School
Glenorchy Primary School
JRLF – Gagebrook Primary School
JRLF – Herdsmans Cove Primary School
JRLF – East Derwent Primary School
Montagu Bay Primary School
Romaine Park Primary School
Springfield Gardens Primary School
Public schools partially closed on Friday:
Beaconsfield Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Bellerive Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Brighton Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 1
Clarendon Vale Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Collinsvale Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 3
Dodges Ferry Primary School – Kinder, Prep, Prep 1, Year 1, Year 3, Year 6
Hagley Farm Primary School – Kindergarten
Illawarra Primary School – Kindergarten
Latrobe Primary School – Kindergarten
Lauderdale Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Lindisfarne North Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
New Norfolk Primary School – Kindergarten, Year 2 to Year 6
Penguin District School – Kindergarten to Year 6
Perth Primary School – Prep
Port Dalrymple School – Kindergarten
Rokeby Primary School – Kindergarten to Year 2
Sorell School – Kindergarten to Year 6
Ulverstone Primary School – Kindergarten and Prep
Catholic schools fully open on Friday:
Corpus Christi Catholic School Bellerive
Sacred Heart Catholic School Geeveston
St Cuthbert’s Catholic School Lindisfarne
St John’s Catholic School Richmond
St Thomas More’s Catholic School Newstead (all year levels)
Catholic schools partially closed on Friday:
Dominic College Glenorchy – Kindergarten to Year 2
John Paul II Catholic School Rokeby – Kindergarten to Year 2
Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School Lenah Valley – Kindergarten
Sacred Heart College New Town – Kindergarten to Year 5
St Aloysius Catholic College Kingston – Kindergarten to Year 4
Catholic schools fully closed on Friday:
St Brigid’s Catholic School Wynyard
St Peter Chanel Catholic School Smithton
