The City of Sydney and Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras today announced that Sunday’s Fair Day event in Victoria Park will be cancelled.
Bonded asbestos was detected in the park on Monday after the Environment Protection Authority prompted the City of Sydney Council to test possibly contaminated mulch found in numerous other parks around Sydney.
The City and Sydney and Mardi Gras have been working together closely over the past two days to coordinate clean-up of the affected areas while bumping in Fair Day infrastructure in time to hold the event.
Following a more detailed investigation into the safety concerns at Victoria Park, it has become clear to the City and Sydney Mardi Gras that an event of the scale of Fair Day is unable to proceed this Sunday.
The City and Sydney Mardi Gras will continue to work together to deliver other events over the 17 days of the festival.
One of the most anticipated events during Sydney’s Mardi Gras, Fair Day (pictured, 2014) has been cancelled after bonded asbestos was found in mulch in Victoria Park
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said: ‘This is an incredibly disappointing decision, as Fair Day is a pivotal part of the Mardi Gras calendar. But we have to put the safety of our community first.
‘We will continue to work with Mardi Gras once the asbestos issue is resolved. Today’s decision underscores how serious this is.
‘The NSW Government and the EPA must make sure this never happens again.’
Fair Day is one of the ‘most loved events’ during Mardi Gras festivities and was expecting to be attended by over 70,000 people, according to Mardi Gras CEO Gil Beckwith.
‘It breaks our heart to see this Sunday not go ahead, but given the safety concerns we must put our communities’ wellbeing first,’ Ms Beckwith said.
‘This cancellation is a setback, however it presents us with an opportunity to unite and support one another more strongly.’
Fair Day attracts about 70,000 people every year and features numerous market stalls and musical performances during the day (pictured, Fair Day 2023)
Victoria park (pictured) is the latest in Sydney to have asbestos detected in contaminated mulch throughout Sydney
Ms Beckwith said the remaining events will go ahead as planned to ‘welcome and celebrate with our community’.
‘Oxtravaganza on 24 February is a free community event that shines a spotlight on our local Gaybourhood businesses, many of which were set to participate in Fair Day; and festival highlights, including Bondi Beach Party, Parade and Mardi Gras Party, remain unaffected,’ she said.
Parks throughout Sydney have undergone testing for the carcinogenic chemical after it was first detected at Rozelle Park, in Sydney’s inner-west.
The City of Sydney Council promptly has closed 32 parks which they fear could also have been contaminated, with testing for asbestos expected to take several weeks.
Asbestos has also been found at Belmore Park in Haymarket, Harmony Park in Surry Hills and even at the Parramatta Light Rail project site in Sydney’s west.
More to come.