FOR more than two decades Wittenoom in WA’s Pilbara region was a mining stronghold.
The small country town which lies around 1400kms northeast of Perth was also, at one stage, the only place in Australia that produced blue asbestos.
But when demand for the deadly mineral began to wane and fears of serious health concerns began to emerge, the operation was shut down in 1966.
However it was another decade before authorities realised the blue dust that swept throughout the town was extremely hazardous.
And it was a further three before the WA Government officially declared Wittenoom a contaminated site.
Despite this, three residents remain, determined to keep living in a town that officially doesn’t exist.
“You would have to respect this area,” Pete, one of the three remaining residents, told Channel 10’s The Project last week. “You wouldn’t want to mess with it too much. But as I say, it has been here for 50 years so what’s likely and airborne, that’s already gone.” …show more content…
Despite it being declared a contaminated site because of the deadly asbestos that flows throughout the town, he says he won’t leave.
Pete is one of three people who still live in Wittenoom. Despite it being declared a contaminated site because of the deadly asbestos that flows throughout the town, he says he won’t leave.Source:Channel 10
At its height, Wittenoom had a population of around 20,000.
7000 were mine and mill workers. The other 13,000 were the families and other workers that serviced the town.
Blue asbestos was used for a range of products including fire resistance spray coating, concrete, pipes and ceiling insulation.
It has been found to be 100 times more hazardous than white asbestos because its fibres are so much
The small country town which lies around 1400kms northeast of Perth was also, at one stage, the only place in Australia that produced blue asbestos.
But when demand for the deadly mineral began to wane and fears of serious health concerns began to emerge, the operation was shut down in 1966.
However it was another decade before authorities realised the blue dust that swept throughout the town was extremely hazardous.
And it was a further three before the WA Government officially declared Wittenoom a contaminated site.
Despite this, three residents remain, determined to keep living in a town that officially doesn’t exist.
“You would have to respect this area,” Pete, one of the three remaining residents, told Channel 10’s The Project last week. “You wouldn’t want to mess with it too much. But as I say, it has been here for 50 years so what’s likely and airborne, that’s already gone.” …show more content…
Despite it being declared a contaminated site because of the deadly asbestos that flows throughout the town, he says he won’t leave.
Pete is one of three people who still live in Wittenoom. Despite it being declared a contaminated site because of the deadly asbestos that flows throughout the town, he says he won’t leave.Source:Channel 10
At its height, Wittenoom had a population of around 20,000.
7000 were mine and mill workers. The other 13,000 were the families and other workers that serviced the town.
Blue asbestos was used for a range of products including fire resistance spray coating, concrete, pipes and ceiling insulation.
It has been found to be 100 times more hazardous than white asbestos because its fibres are so much