As of February 2025, all asbestos mulch sites in NSW, Victoria, and Queensland have been successfully remediated. This website now serves as a historical archive.
Welcome to Asbestos Near Me. What began as a humorous observation amid the vibrant chaos of Mardi Gras in early 2024 soon spiraled into a project of unforeseen significance. Driven by a blend of revelry and a spur-of-the-moment inspiration, I stumbled upon an idea that was as much a jest as it was a response to the pressing environmental issue of asbestos contamination that was unfolding across NSW.
Sharing this blend of humor and critique, I turned to Twitter, where the idea first took flight:
Has anyone made a Sydney Asbestos tracker yet….. might be an idea for @jxeeno
— Jack Jacobs (@jacojac) March 3, 2024
I should get Australian of the year! I've made an amazing tool to protect everyone!https://t.co/9nP2jvhj9H
— Jack Jacobs (@jacojac) March 3, 2024
Bought the site at 18:08
Published at 18:30!
All while at Laneway hammered! Don't cancel me! pic.twitter.com/PsKInu3xIg
The satirical nudge was encapsulated in a web page that queried users about their residence in New South Wales, subtly mocking the state's handling of asbestos mulch. This initial version was more than just a joke; it was a conversation starter (See the original joke page here).
The night's festivities, coupled with the burgeoning realization of the impact such a platform could have, led to a rapid pivot. Asbestos Near Me transformed from a humorous critique into a vital tool for community awareness and safety, dedicated to mapping areas affected by contaminated asbestos mulch across NSW and beyond.
Throughout 2024, this platform served as an essential resource for communities concerned about asbestos contamination in their areas. What began as a NSW-focused initiative eventually expanded to cover affected sites in Victoria and Queensland as well. By providing transparent, up-to-date information about affected sites and remediation status, we aimed to support public safety and accountability across multiple states.
Throughout 2024, Asbestos Near Me transformed from a humorous critique into a vital tool for community awareness and safety, dedicated to mapping areas affected by contaminated asbestos mulch across NSW and beyond.
What began as a NSW-focused initiative eventually expanded to cover affected sites in Victoria and Queensland as well. As the situation grew, so did this platform, becoming an essential resource for communities concerned about asbestos contamination in their areas.
The website launched in March 2024 as a simple tracking tool, and by April it had expanded to include detailed information about remediation status. In June 2024, coverage was added for Victoria and Queensland sites, and by September, improved filtering and sorting functionality was implemented. In February 2025, the site transitioned to a historical archive as all sites were remediated across all states, with NSW being the last to complete remediation.
In February 2025, the NSW EPA confirmed that their remediation efforts were complete, making them the last state to finish the process after Victoria and Queensland had already completed their work. This marked the official end of the asbestos mulch contamination that had affected parks, schools, hospitals, and other public spaces across multiple states.
Today, the platform stands as a record of how a moment of jest evolved into something more purposeful. What started as a joke at Mardi Gras became a way to track information about affected areas and their remediation status.
Today, Asbestos Near Me stands as a historical archive—a testament to how a moment of jest evolved into a significant resource during a public health crisis. The site now provides a comprehensive record of the asbestos mulch contamination incident, the locations affected, and the remediation efforts that ultimately resolved the situation.
For questions or historical data inquiries related to the asbestos mulch crisis: