A Bill to finalise the closure of the former asbestos mining town of Wittenoom has been reintroduced to the WA State Parliament.
The Wittenoom Closure Bill seeks to enable the compulsory acquisition of 14 remaining privately-owned properties in the former townsite.
Once the Bill is passed, and the final properties have been acquired from the three remaining owners, all remaining infrastructure within the former townsite will be removed to limit the attraction for people to visit and stay in the area.
“It has been more than 100 years since blue asbestos was first identified in the Hamersley Ranges, and more than 80 years since mining commenced in Wittenoom,” said Lands Minister, Tony Buti. “What followed was one of Australia’s worst industrial disasters that led to thousands of deaths and classification of the area as the largest contaminated site in the southern hemisphere.”
He said the Wittenoom Closure Bill would be a significant step forward in resolving the longstanding industrial tragedy, protecting public health, and putting an end to a dark period in the State’s mine history.
Despite the many warning signs though, some travellers still insist on giving the area ‘a look’.
Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia CEO Melita Markey said an alarming amount of people are still visiting Wittenoom every day.
“It’s seen as an old ghost town, and people are unaware of the dangers,” she said. “Don’t become a Wittenoom statistic, we are still dealing with deaths on a weekly basis because of the legacy of Wittenoom.”
The Asbestos Diseases Society of Australia has started a petition for a permanent memorial to the Wittenoom tragedy.
Been there when hotel was still operating. Went in took some photo’s and left. Will the poor people moved on be fully compensated or just be forgotten
Why has the mining company not been made responsible for cleaning up the site?
On my visit 4-5 yrs ago there was a number of signs that said keep out due to asbestos and had a federal or state government stamp on it.
So why had the fences and gates been left in a state of disrepair if they installed them and haven’t kept them in a fair condition, doesn’t this implicate them legally ? Surely it must.
i would be facinated to visit,