Children at Yarralumla Primary School are being tested for lead poisoning as parents raise concerns they were not notified about possible exposure to lead paint sooner.
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Rachel Campbell said her daughter spent three years in one of the affected buildings and has developed a stutter which her general practitioner has advised could be linked to lead exposure.
"A sustained exposure over three years at such a young age is a bit of a worry," she said.
Ms Campbell said she was not aware of a lead assessment conducted by Robson Environmental in April 2019 and a lead management plan produced by the same firm in November 2019.
"The directorate knew about the lead levels prior to the shutting of that wing," Ms Campbell said.
"I think that they probably should have said more, sooner."
Another mother, who did not wish to be named, said she would also have her three children tested for lead poisoning.
"My girls have been complaining for some time of having tummy aches, nausea and headaches and I genuinely didn't realise there was an issue with lead at the school because we weren't told," she said.
"And I only recently became aware of this issue when we started receiving some communications that there was some painting work under way a couple of weeks ago and the children had to get moved out of classrooms."
Education Minister Yvette Berry said she would visit the school next week and if people felt uncomfortable they should get tested.
"I understand that the levels need to be below the threshold before they allow people back into those places, but there was lead paint in a lot of buildings in schools across the city that were built before the 1970s," Ms Berry said.
Ms Berry said she understood the situation was being managed appropriately based on expertise from WorkSafe and Robson Environmental.
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The lead management plan produced in November 2019 showed areas known to have high lead concentrations were painted over in July 2019 but by August the over-painted surfaces had deteriorated.
The report recommended abatement of the affected surfaces in the Gambarri centre, preschool, after-school care building and the canteen and hall.
Recommended abatement methods included enclosing the surfaces, removal or replacement of the surfaces or removing the lead paint using a safe method that would generate the least amount of dust.
In the July school holidays, Complete Constructions were engaged to replace windows of eight classrooms.
A spokesperson for the Education Directorate said all safety protocols recommended by the environmental assessor were followed.
"Based on the advice of Robsons Environmental, there was no requirement for either dust masks or hazmat suits to be used as the removal of these windows was not classified by the expert advice as a 'lead process'," the spokesperson said.
"The contractor used coverings around the areas being disturbed."
Testing on nearby surfaces on July 17 found above threshold lead levels. On August 3, high levels of lead were found in three more classrooms.
Australian Education Union ACT branch secretary Glenn Fowler said the lead paint exposure was not a major health risk.
"We have requested further medical briefings to provide people with additional reassurance that the health impacts are manageable," he said.
An Education Directorate representative was available to answer parents' questions at the school. The directorate declined an interview with The Canberra Times but responded in writing.