The asbestos was first identified in the soil of a walking track running next to the west basin, around the National Museum of Australia.

The area has been fenced off from public access since, with air quality testing finding the asbestos is not airborne and the air quality is safe.

Further sites around the lake, including on the eastern foreshore, were found after 50 samples were taken and seven came back positive.

The locations of the seven positive samples:

At the sites near the National Museum of Australia, contractors will remove the layer of contaminated soil and replace it with clean material.

Afterwards, they will work on the eastern foreshore, where the contaminated soil will be capped.

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The NCA will take advice from experts about when to remove fencing following remediation works.

Signs will be placed at the affected sites, including at the beginning of the West Basin bush track, detouring visitors onto paved paths towards the National Museum of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Air quality inspection on the whole peninsula will be undertaken during remediation works to ensure it remains safe.

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