Buried asbestos at Hyden Primary School has resurfaced in the playground, sparking safety concerns from parents who say years of temporary fixes have failed to solve the problem.

A piece of asbestos was discovered in the school’s playground last month, prompting renewed calls for the Department of Education to permanently remove the hazard rather than continue what has been described as “band-aid solutions”.

The asbestos dates back to the 1970s when an old toilet block containing asbestos was demolished.

Instead of being removed from the site, the material was buried beneath a mound of soil in the playground.

The mound was later built up during the construction of another toilet block to improve drainage, with more soil and a garden placed over the area.

However, decades of erosion and children playing on the mound have caused pieces of asbestos to gradually resurface.

While asbestos poses little risk if left undisturbed, parents fear the repeated exposure of fragments in a busy school playground increases the likelihood of the material being disturbed.

Parents say the exposure has become a recurring cycle and are urging the Education Department to permanently remediate the site rather than continue removing individual pieces as they appear.

Hyden Primary School Parents and Citizens president Catherine Mayfield said the response from the department and the Shire of Kondinin had been disappointing.

“We’ve written letters to our members of Parliament for which we have received no response,” she said.

“The Education Department said . . . that they just found out about it last month which isn’t true — they’ve been removing asbestos out of that for years and years.

“Every time it happens the school informs the Education Department who sends someone out from Narrogin and they put it in a plastic bag, take it back and it’s play on for the kids.

“As parents we don’t want any more band-aid solutions to it, we want them to actually remove it.”

Ms Mayfield said they have been aware of the issue for some time but now it is having an impact on the school staff and kids during break times.

“Gardeners don’t really want to garden there because its been found many times over the last 40 to 50 years,” she said.

“As parents we’ve known about it the whole time. I’ve had kids at the school and we all know there is asbestos under there but it seems to be (appearing) more frequent now.

“It’s a shame because the kids create their farms because they want to be like their parents, and they dig and plant their seed but they aren’t allowed to do that anymore in that area because they kept digging (asbestos) up and now they aren’t able to do what they want in the playground.

“The source of the problem needs to be dealt with.”

Roe MLA Peter Rundle said he is calling for the Department of Education to take real action and provide a permanent solution for the Hyden Primary School.

“I received a letter from parents so I rang up straight away and also spoke to other community members about it, including the principal as well . . . and obviously it’s a real issue,” he said.

“I fully support the P&C, the parents are very worried about their kids in the Hyden school playground, and this has been going on as I understand it since about 2023.

“The department are saying that they are now aware of it and there are consultants going up in the July school holidays.

“What I’m calling for is action, not more consultants, as I think the whole area needs to be cleared and a new toilet block put in there.

“It’s a real issue and it’s time the Education Department did something.

“It’s time for the Education Department to stop kicking the can down the road.

“The health of our regional kids is just every bit as important as our metropolitan kids and we need to be treated equally, and this needs to be dealt with urgently.”

A Department of Education spokesperson said action is being taken and the safety of students and staff remains a priority.

“In accordance with department procedures the material has been removed and sent for testing and identification, and the area has been cordoned off to prevent students from entering,” they said.

“The safety of students and staff is our priority.

“As a precautionary measure, further assessment of the site will take place during the July school holidays to identify any further actions required.”