❓ Question regarding the government's plan to close Wittenoom due to asbestos contamination and the compulsory acquisition of remaining properties. The Minister outlines the rationale, emphasizing safety concerns and the tragic history.
AnsweredQoN 180Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
COMPULSORY PROPERTY ACQUISITION — WITTENOOM
180. Mr S.A. MILLMAN to the Minister for Lands:
I refer to the devastating history of Wittenoom, which has
seen more than 2 000 former mine workers and residents die from
asbestos-related diseases. Can the minister outline to the house why this
government intends to close this former asbestos mining town?
180. Mr S.A. MILLMAN to the Minister for Lands:
I refer to the devastating history of Wittenoom, which has
seen more than 2 000 former mine workers and residents die from
asbestos-related diseases. Can the minister outline to the house why this
government intends to close this former asbestos mining town?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question. I think
all members in this place—in fact, all Western Australians and I daresay
Australians—are familiar with the very tragic history of Wittenoom and
the impact blue asbestos had. At this stage, more than 2 000 workers and
residents of Wittenoom have passed away from blue asbestos-related diseases.
This is, I guess, as a policy idea, something that has been run through
consecutive governments. In 2007, Wittenoom was de-gazetted as a town site. It
is no longer an official town site. Since then the state has acquired about 36
properties from former residents of Wittenoom. However, a small number—five
people—own 17 properties. Of those five people, three are current
residents of Wittenoom. Consecutive governments have attempted to acquire those
properties from those residents but they are simply refusing to sell. The fact
there are permanent residents in Wittenoom attracts tourists and visitors to
the former town site and more broadly. Indeed, people have been invited onto
that former town site. This is why we have to go down this unusual path of
compulsorily acquiring those 17 properties, albeit, at a generous rate. They
will be well compensated. Western Australians and tourists have taken pictures
of themselves outside clear signage, for example, on the former mine and town
site, and posted them on social media such as Instagram and Facebook. It
suggests to me that not only is there a false assumption perhaps being viewed
by people that the fact that people still live at Wittenoom means it is now
safe, but also perhaps the tide of history causing younger people to forget
what blue asbestos has done to many Australians means that people are perhaps
not aware of the dangers still there. There are some three million cubic metres
of asbestos tailings. I suspect that regardless of efforts by governments, we
will never be able to make that area entirely safe for human habitation. That
is probably the reality. It is the largest contaminated site in the southern
hemisphere. We are moving down a path of ensuring that we do this. I suspect we
will end up with a pretty good dialogue with the three remaining Wittenoom
residents. We want to do this in a respectful manner but be clear that we need
to do this. I do not want people to think for a minute that it is a safe place
to visit. We need to ensure that.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : The member
for North West Central can ask me a question about that if he needs to.
This is an important thing to do. I
hope, broadly, we get Parliament's support. As I said, this is one of
those policy issues that tends to survive governments because of the reality
that what blue asbestos has done to Australians is very well known. It is a tragic
story. Hopefully, this is the last piece of legislation that needs to be
introduced to deal with Wittenoom and we can finalise what has been a very sad
and tragic history for WA.
all members in this place—in fact, all Western Australians and I daresay
Australians—are familiar with the very tragic history of Wittenoom and
the impact blue asbestos had. At this stage, more than 2 000 workers and
residents of Wittenoom have passed away from blue asbestos-related diseases.
This is, I guess, as a policy idea, something that has been run through
consecutive governments. In 2007, Wittenoom was de-gazetted as a town site. It
is no longer an official town site. Since then the state has acquired about 36
properties from former residents of Wittenoom. However, a small number—five
people—own 17 properties. Of those five people, three are current
residents of Wittenoom. Consecutive governments have attempted to acquire those
properties from those residents but they are simply refusing to sell. The fact
there are permanent residents in Wittenoom attracts tourists and visitors to
the former town site and more broadly. Indeed, people have been invited onto
that former town site. This is why we have to go down this unusual path of
compulsorily acquiring those 17 properties, albeit, at a generous rate. They
will be well compensated. Western Australians and tourists have taken pictures
of themselves outside clear signage, for example, on the former mine and town
site, and posted them on social media such as Instagram and Facebook. It
suggests to me that not only is there a false assumption perhaps being viewed
by people that the fact that people still live at Wittenoom means it is now
safe, but also perhaps the tide of history causing younger people to forget
what blue asbestos has done to many Australians means that people are perhaps
not aware of the dangers still there. There are some three million cubic metres
of asbestos tailings. I suspect that regardless of efforts by governments, we
will never be able to make that area entirely safe for human habitation. That
is probably the reality. It is the largest contaminated site in the southern
hemisphere. We are moving down a path of ensuring that we do this. I suspect we
will end up with a pretty good dialogue with the three remaining Wittenoom
residents. We want to do this in a respectful manner but be clear that we need
to do this. I do not want people to think for a minute that it is a safe place
to visit. We need to ensure that.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mr B.S. WYATT : The member
for North West Central can ask me a question about that if he needs to.
This is an important thing to do. I
hope, broadly, we get Parliament's support. As I said, this is one of
those policy issues that tends to survive governments because of the reality
that what blue asbestos has done to Australians is very well known. It is a tragic
story. Hopefully, this is the last piece of legislation that needs to be
introduced to deal with Wittenoom and we can finalise what has been a very sad
and tragic history for WA.
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