30 people live at the Settlement - 12 in Single mess, remainder in 8 family houses.
# 1967 - December 21
Hedland Times - headline "HANCOCK TAKES OVER POWER SUPPLY."
# 1967 - 1968
Iron Ore (Hanwright) Agreement Act 1967-68 between State Government, Hancock and Wright and Mount Bruce Mining. Temporary Reserve/s
# 1968 - January
B McKenna and G Benger make application for land to develop as a Caravan Park.
# 1968
The Miscellaneous Workers Union calls upon the ACTU to prepare a case for asbestos legislation.
# 1969 -February 7
Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd and Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd become tenants in common in equal shares of housing property in the township of Wittenoom.
# 1969
On the basis of mesothelioma risk, the UK introduces an exposure standard of 0.2 fibres/cc for crocidolite, in an attempt to restrict its use.
# 1972
Production of chrysotile began at Woodsreef, Barraba, New South Wales employing about 400 people. According to the New South Wales Mines Department, at no stage in its five year history did the mine comply fully with the Australian safety standard of 4 fibres per millilitre per eight hour shift.
# 1972
Dust levels at Baryugil, NSW, chrysotile mine, were seventy times greater than the Australian standard, which in itself was twice as great as the British standard occupational exposure for an eight hour working day.
# 1972
Last major application of crocidolite in NSW at Number Four Unit, Munmorah Power House following discovery of a fracture in a steam chest. This was stripped and resprayed with crocidolite.
# 1972 June 16
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972 ratified. Agreement between State Government, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd and Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd.
Establishes Temporary Reserve 5616H
Covers Bee Gorge, Drillers Ridge, includes lookout, Western Gorge, Garden Pool, the Settlement, Mine Pool and off to the East.
# 1973
SGIO had more claims from Wittenoom than all other Western Australian mines together.
_ (QUERY : How come SGIO were covering asbestos workers when such cover was being withdrawn as early as 1917 in Canada and 1918 in the USA?)_
# 1973 - October 25, 26, 27
A Public Health Inspector, Mr W. Moyle's report contains the following observations.
"Streets are sealed but in all except one or two cases have been made with mine tailings. Evidence of unsealed tailings may be noted on the sides of the roads.
In the early days it is obvious that people used tailings to make drive-ins for their houses and some even used them to cover garden areas. Large areas covered by tailings include the front of the Wittenoom Club, the car park for the Club, the Convent playground, the vehicle parking site near the State school and the tennis courts.
The race course in completed covered with tailings and it is interesting how the fibres have become pulverised and separated with rain to form concentrations in the hollows made by hoof marks.
At the airport tailings have been used but a sealing programme is intended for the middle of November this year. The Shire Councillor, Mr McGuire, said that the Shire has not used tailings for years because they are aware of the health danger and also because it is now too expensive.
I contacted Mr Bolitho, Manager for Hancock & Wright, at Wittenoom. His office is in the Gorge where approximately 16 families are housed. Mr Bolitho said these families are employed by Hancock & Wright and are engaged in exploration and maintenance work.
He said screenings are now sold at $15 a ton to discourage anyone from using it. He is prepared to sell it to anyone making concrete. He said tourists generally have access to tailings but are given a permit to inspect the mill treatment plant with a warning that "breathing asbestos dust is dangerous."
[It was learnt with regret that Mr Bolitho died recently from mesothelioma.]
(If Hancock et al were _SELLING_ tailings, one has to presume they were aware that they_ OWNED_ the tailings.)
There is a theory known as the "one fibre theory". In any event, this is purely an academic argument intended to demonstrate that as there is no level low enough to be proven safe, so that even one fibre, under miraculously and almost totally impossible circumstances, can produce mesothelioma.
As you will soon see, this theory is not only academic, it is totally irrelevant when considering the air at Wittenoom.
Fibres are measured as the number of Fibres/ml (cc).
Not ALL fibres are counted.
Only those with an aspect ratio of length to width of 3:1 are counted. The fibres must be greater than 5 microns in length and less then 3 microns in width.
These are known as "regulatory fibres" and are of the size most likely to penetrate the lung and cause mesothelioma.
Wagner (1985) finds that mineral fibres of this size, other than asbestos, are capable of causing mesothelioma. He states:
_ "It is now established that the inhalation of all mineral fibres of a specific diameter and length size range may be associated with the development of diffuse pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas ....the evidence points to exposure to the amphiboles, or material containing amphibole, as being more hazardous than exposure to uncontaminated chrysotile fibres."_
Not all fibres are retained in the lungs. A conservative estimate is that about 1% remain in the lungs.
MEASURED AS Average Adult Intake
Fibres/ml/cc Hourly Twenty-four Hourly
0.0000 - - - Only TOTALLY safe level
0.0001100 2,400of crocidolite.
0.0002200 4,800
0.0003300 7,200Invisible even to
0.0004400 9,600electron microscopes
0.000550012,000 "
0.000660014,400 "
0.000770016,800 - DETECTION LIMIT -----
0.000880019,200Visible to most electron
0.000990021,600microscopes.
0.0011,00024,000 "
0.0022,00048,000 "
0.0033,00072,000 - Visible to all
0.0044,00096,000 - Suggested environmental
0.0055,000120,000level for crocidolite
0.0066,000144,000
Not adopted anywhere in
0.0077,000168,000the world.
0.0088,000192,000
0.0099,000216,000
0.0110,000240,000 –
Aust. Occupational*
0.0220,000480,000 –
UK Occupational
0.0330,000720,000exposure to crocidolite
0.0440,000960,000
UK environmental level
0.0550,0001,200,000for amosite & chrysotile
0.0660,0001,440,000
0.0770,0001,680,000* applies to
0.0880,0001,920,000
0.0990,0002,160,000
0.1100,0002,400,000 crocidolite
0.2200,0004,800,000 amosite
0.3300,0007,200,000
0.4400,0009,600,000
0.5500,000 12,000,000
0.6600,000 14,400,000
0.7700,000 16,800,000
0.8800,000 19,200,000
0.9900,000 21,600,000
1.0 1,000,000 24,000,000 –
Aust.Occup.Chrysotile
2.0 2,000,000 48,000,000 –
British Occupational
Health level for amosite and chrysotile.
.# 1973 - October 27
Air monitoring - Public Health Department. Air samples taken in and around the township by Mr Moyle. They were examined in 1975.
Personal samples
Average Adult
(fibres/cc) Hourly 24 hours
State School0.16160,000
Police Station0.0 50,000
Airport0.05 50,000
Woodward 5th Ave 0.88880,000 21,120,000
53 Fourth Ave0.05 50,000 1,200,000
Back of Hotel0.11110,000 2,640,000
# 1973 - November 5
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Deed of Assignment : Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd and Wright Prospecting Pty Ltd assigned 50% share in their right title and interest to the 1972 Agreement to Marandoo Mining Co Ltd a company incorporated in the State of Delaware in the United States of America and registered in the State of Western Australia as a foreign company under the provisions of the Companies Act 1961.
# 1974
First public warning of the dangers of blue asbestos:
BULLETIN magazine cover story,
"Is this Killer in Your Home?"
Written by Tim Hall.
Introduced mesothelioma to general public.
# 1974 - April 5
Name change from Wittenoom Gorge to Wittenoom gazetted.
# 1974 - May 6
Western Australian Police Department closes Sandstone Police Station.
# 1974 - December 4
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Marandoo Mining Co Ltd changed its name to Texasgulf Marandoo Ltd.
# 1976
Wittenoom - population of 962 (EncBr)
# 1976 April 8 Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd changed its name to Hancock Prospecting Limited.
# 1976 - December 29
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Texasgulf Marandoo Ltd assigned all its right title and interest in and to the 1972 Agreement to Texasgulf Australia Ltd.
# 1977 - January 13
Such tenements as were not already held by Hancock Prospecting were transferred from ABA to Hancock in the records held by the Department of Minerals and Energy.
Hancock had always owned tenements 13, 14 and 16 in Wittenoom Gorge and tenements 29, 35 and 38 in Yampire Gorge.
_ The above are the tenements on which the tailings are dumped._
Documents lodged with the Supreme Court of Western Australia list the Mineral Claims held by ABA and those held by Hancock.
ABA : 215H - 218H,244H, 264H - 267H and 270H
Hancock : 268H, 299H, 271H - 273H
# 1977 - May
Woodsreef, Barraba, NSW. Two thirds of the workers had been exposed to levels exceeding the safety limit as measured on personal samplers. Environmental samples returned results two to five times greater than safety limit of four fibres per millilitre which is double the UK standard of two fibres per millilitre.
# 1977 - June 8
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Hancock Prospecting Limited changed its name to Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd
# 1977 - June 24
Writ issued in the Supreme Court by Cornelius (Keith) Maas against ABA alleging negligence in failing to provide him with safe working conditions. It was alleged ABA subjected him to unnecessary risks and failed to provide adequate respirators for employees or an adequate dust extraction system. He becomes the first mesothelioma victim to sue CSR subsidiary, ABA, that ran the mine. Hehad been awarded $33,000 Worker's Compensation.
# 1977 - July 4
Keith Maas died before his case came to Court.
# 1977 - July 8
Western Australian Police Department closes Tammin Police Station.
September 8, January 31, 1978
ABC - Broadband - journalist Matt Peacock, and "This Day Tonight". Transcript published in 1978 as book entitled "Asbestos - Work as a Health Hazard" by the ABC together with Hodder & Stoughton.
# 1977 - July
NSW Division of Industrial Hygiene Report on Victoria
Rail's Bendigo workshops records an asbestos count of 11 fibres per millilitre - one hundred times greater than the Australian standard and two hundred times greater than the standard for British Rail.
# 1977
X-rays taken of the 146 adults at Wittenoom. No direct evidence of asbestos related disease detected in any X-ray. (Note: According to long term resident, these X-rays were voluntary and not all persons were X-rayed.)
# 1977 - July
Air monitoring - Public Health Department.
Dr. AG Cumpston and Mr D Sykes visited Wittenoom to take air samples.
Samples taken by driving around town in a car with a sampling head protruding from the boot of the car. This sampler collected fibres made airborne through vehicular activity.
Ten Samples - fibre counts (fibres/cc)
AVERAGE ADULT
Hourly Twenty-four hours
1.3 1,300,000 31,200,000
0.8800,000 19,200,000
0.8800,000 19,200,000
3.0 3,000,000 72,000,000
1.91,900,00045,600,000
3.63,600,00073,440,000
1.21,200,00028,800,000
1.31,300,00031,200,000
1.71,700,00050,400,000
2.12,100,00050,400,000
Average 1.77 fibres/cc.
1,770,00042,480,000
Sand from creek bed approximately 5 km from Wittenoom. The sample contains approximately 0.25 percent of crocidolite in millimetre sized particles which shed fibres of respirable dimensions if agitated.
_ Dust from outside vacuum cleaner bag, Dumar Hotel._
Respirable fibres are present in the sample, their concentration relative to the total mass of the sample being in the same order as in these samples which were collected by personal sampler. Most of the fibres are between 5mm and 50mm in length and less than 1mm in diameter. The coarser fibres include a high proportion of crocidolite.
_ Asbestos tailings collected from the mine site._
The sample contains approximately 5 percent of crocidolite, mostly in discrete matted aggregate of crushed fibre. This material is susceptible to shedding particles of respirable size.
Three samples of dust from a dust gauge mounted in the school grounds._
3 samples contained crocidolite estimated to be less than
1% of the sample. 2 samples contained respirable fibres.
More than 75% of thecrocidolite is greater than respirable size.
_ Seven samples of vacuum cleaner dust from various residences around Wittenoom_
Crocidolite fibres were present in all samples.
Respirable fibres in five samples.
As well as recommending that no future development of the town be permitted, Dr Cumpston also recommended that investigations described in the above report be repeated each year.
# 1977 - August
NSW Health Commission begins intense investigation of the health of Baryulgil asbestos miners. Some of these Aboriginal miners had worked regularly at the mine for over twenty years.
Truckloads of tailings had been dumped on roads and driveways by the local Shire. There was a pile of tailings in the school playground.
# 1977 - September 5
Western Australian Police Department closes Greenbushes Police Station.Greenbushes known for tin-mining activity.
# 1977 - November
Air Monitoring - Mines Inspector.
A sample of dust from a personal sampler worn by a Mines Inspector for half an hour outside the school and one hour outside the hotel was found to contain approximately 0.2 fibres/cc. This equalled the British threshold limit for occupational exposure, and it was decided to embark on a more detailed sampling program.
200,000 per hour and 4,800,000 per 24-hour -average adult.
# 1978 - January
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) sets a standard for occupational exposure to crocidolite of 0.1 fibres per millilitre.
# 1978 - June 14
The Wittenoom Trust set up by CSR to provide financial help to ex-employees affected by asbestos diseases.
# 1978 - July/September
Air monitoring - Public Health Department.
A volunteer group of citizens wore personal dust samplers for periods of six hours at a time.
Twelve samples : Average Adult
Fibres per ccHourly Twenty-four Hours
0.0880,0001,920,000
0.0990,0002,160,000
0.0110,000 240,000
0.21 210,0005,040,000
0.0660,0001,440,000
0.0220,000 480,000
0.0880,0001,920,000
0.14 140,0003,360,000
0.0110,000 240,000
0.0660,0001,440,000
0.12 120,0002,880,000
0.0220,000 480,000
Average 0.07575,0001,800,000
# 1978
Foundation of the Asbestos Diseases Society to help victims of asbestos related disease.
# 1978 - November 27
Government decides to phase out the town of Wittenoom. Decision follows publication of a booklet "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom" containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of world-wide medical information.
"The announced closure of Wittenoom in 1978 by the State Government was essentially a result of continued recommendations of the Public Health Department of Western Australia." (Mark Nevill.)
# 1978 - November 29
Decision announced.
# 1978 - December 4
Minister of Health visits Wittenoom, addresses public meeting. Of the 104 adults present, only one couple accept the closure option.
# 1979 - January 18
Majority of Mineral Claims surrended to the State except tenements 24 and 44 which were later transferred 1984 January 20.
# 1979 - February
Wittenoom Police Station reduced to one officer.
# 1979 - August 3
Government policy was suspended as a consequence of strong representation from the residents of the township.
(That was the official line. It may also have something to do with the fact the Government did not have the power to close the town as many people owned freehold property.)
# 1979 - August
Formation of the Wittenoom Health and Works Committee. Membership comprised eight elected residents, one nominee from the Public Health Department, the Department of the North West and the West Pilbara Shire Council (now the Ashburton Shire Council.)
# 1979
Report "Exposure to Crocidolite in Wittenoom" prepared by Dr AG Cumpston, Occupational Health, Clean Air and Noise Abatement.
A number of the samples obtained were unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons, including technical faults and human error.
(HUMAN ERROR includes the belief that deliberate tampering cannot be identified. This belief is an excuse given by some residents for dismissing any results unless they support what they want to believe.)
70 valid samples were obtained from group of residents who volunteered to wear personal samplers. The aggregate result from all samples is 0.03 fibres/ml and therefore the possible existence of a health hazard must be recognised.
(0.03 f/ml = 30,000 hourly; 720,000 daily average adult.)
The health risk from exposure to crocidolite in Wittenoom is small but it is greater than that which could be presumed to exist in urban situations. In overseas studies it had been found that the ambient air exposure of the general public in large cities is at least 100 times, and nearer to 1,000 times, less than is the case at Wittenoom. The fibre concentrations are not low enough to avoid risk to the health of people resident in the town, especially children. It is a risk which cannot be ignored by anyone, especially parents.
(To obtain hourly intake - move decimal point six places to the right. Daily = X 24. Retention = delete final two zeros.)
0.21 SEC Driving round town, general inspection
0.14 SEC Driving (am), maintenance (pm)
0.14 AIRPORT dragging airstrip
0.12 SEC Driving (pm), maintenance (am)
0.12 SHIRE truck, driving, general duties
0.12 SHIRE truck, driving around town.
0.10 AIRPORT sweeping and rolling airstrip
0.09 SEC driving around town, general inspection
0.09 AIRPORT maintenance (am), strip inspection (pm)
0.08 AIRPORT rolling flight strip and office work
0.08 ART GALLERY domestic activities and use car in town
0.08 ART GALLERY use of car in Wittenoom Gorge and vacuum cleaning
0.08 SHIRE driving truck around town (am), general duties,Shire yard and race course (pm)
0.07 STATIONARY MONITOR tailings being removed from front of hotel. Dust blowing in direction away from monitor.
0.07 AIRPORT drove into town, vehicle maintenance, office
0.07 AIRPORT vehicle maintenance and office work
0.06 AIRPORT trip into town, rolling airstrip, office work and runway inspection
0.06 ART GALLERY use of car and gardening
0.06 ART GALLERY use of car, framing painting, packing
0.05 HOUSEWIFE drove all over town delivering goods
0.05 GARAGE attending bowser and office work. (Whirlwind)
0.05 SHIRE driving truck all day
0.04 AIRPORT maintenance (am), strip inspection (pm)
0.04 STATIONARY MONITOR Shire Office, Third Avenue
0.04 AIRPORT maintenance of vehicles and airstrip
0.04 HOUSEWIFE driving and visiting in town (am) resting
0.03 GARAGE attending bowser and office work. (Whirlwind)
0.03 HOUSEWIFE sweeping and vacuuming, walked and drove in town (am), resting (pm)
0.03 HOUSEWIFE housework and drove round town (am), laundry and resting (pm)
0.03 SHIRE drove to airport (am), duties in Shire yard (pm)
Rained the previous night.
0.03 AIRPORT vehicle maintenance and spreading herbicide on airstrip.
0.03 STATIONARY MONITORS in protected position on front verandah Fifth Avenue.
One personal sampler revealed no fibres whatsoever, 11 samplers returned a value <0.01, 28 returned a value of 0.01 while the remaing 13 returned values of 0.02
# 1979
SECWA
(State Electricity Commission of Western Australia)
takes responsibility for the provision of power to Wittenoom.
# 1979 - August 17
The forfeiture of tailings dumps for non-payment of rent is gazetted.
# 1979 - November 13
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Provisions varied by agreement.
Air Monitoring - Public Health Department. Long term air monitoring in the Wittenoom Primary School grounds.
# 1980 - December
Cabinet decides to ban connection of essential services (water and electricity) to new residents arriving in Wittenoom.
# 1980 - 1983
Shire of Ashburton. Closure of some Wittenoom streets, a kerbing and resealing program completed. Tailings removed from town street reserves.
# 1981 - February 26
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972 Agreement
The Guarantor agreed with the State to guarantee the performance by New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited of its obligations under the 1972 Agreement.
# 1981 - February 27
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972 Agreement
Texasgulf Australia Ltd assigned all its right title and interest, inter alia, in and to the 1972 Agreement to New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited.
# 1981 - March
The State Government, for the second time, reaffirms the phasing out of the town and initiates planning or a new tourist resort. This action, which followed the air monitoring of October 1980, caused resentment and frustration among Wittenoom residents.
# 1981 - June 14
Hancock Prospecting and Wright Prospecting purchase Wittenoom properties.
# 1981
Population 247
OR
Population 161
# 1983 July
Population 85 including 17 school-age children.
# 1984 - January 24
Western Australian Police Department closes Koolyanobbing
Police Station.
Koolyanobbing earlier known for mining iron ore to supply Wundowie smelter.
# 1984 - April 2
Air monitoring - Public Health Department
# 1984 - May
Population 94
# 1984 - October
Government adopted a policy of phasing down activity by proposing residents relocate and offering to purchase their houses, businesses or other property. The Government would treat Wittenoom the same as other small towns in the State but power and water supplies would not be reconnected to disconnected properties nor connected to new buildings.
# Relocation Assistance
A travel grant of $500 per person and up to $3000 per household for the removal of personal effects for persons who have resided in Wittenoom since before 31 March 1981 and who accept this offer before the end of December, 1985. # Purchase of houses, blocks and businesses at fair market prices.
An offer to purchase the property of people who wished to leave or had left Wittenoom, subject to acceptance of the market value determined by the Office of the Valuer General and the offer being accepted by 31 December, 1986
# Government phasing out policy modified to ensure that State Government existing facilities and services and the Fortescue Hotel are maintained until alternatives are available.
# 1984
Hancock & Wright demolish about 60 houses in the town.
# 1984
Hamersley Iron withdrew from township and demolished base camp near the racecourse.
# 1984 - November
Ministerial visit to Wittenoom.
# 1985 - March 26
Air Monitoring - Wittenoom Health and Works Committee. Wittenoom Health and Works Committee commissions the Geraldton Building Company to undertake the Wittenoom Environmental Engineering Study which involved air monitoring.
# 1985 July
Geraldton Building Company completes Wittenoom
Environmental Engineering Study.
RESULTS No.Samples Max.f/ml Min.F/ml
NE Corner of Townsite600.001<0.0001
NW Corner of Townsite560.0006<0.0001
SE Corner of Townsite480.0006<0.0001
Outside GBC Office590.002<0.0001
South end Townsite420.0003<0.0001
SW Corner of Townsite490.0009<0.0001
Centre of Townsite530.001<0.0001
MEAN VALUE0.0003
9km from Townsite 70.0008<0.0001
MEAN VALUE0.0002
Minesite near Workshop540.003<0.0001
MEAN VALUE0.0012
Settlement East of houses570.0009<0.0001
MEAN VALUE 0.0004
Gorge 2km S. Townsite250.0006<0.0001
4.5km S. Townsite280.0005<0.0001
Corner Mine turn-off480.001<0.0001
MEAN VALUE0.0004
9km West of Townsite220.001<0.0001
4.5 km West of Townsite230.0006<0.0001
2km West of Townsite200.0005<0.0001
2km East of Townsite450.0006<0.0001
4.5 km East of Townsite420.0003<0.0001
4.5 km North of Townsite390.0007<0.0001
2 km North of Townsite460.004<0.0001
MEAN VALUE0.0004
# 1985 - December 18
Wittenoom Primary School closed.
# 1986 - March
Air monitoring Program - Department of Conservation and Environment "Wittenoom Airborne AsbestosStudy".
322 samples from 7 stations.
Results :
A = PROBABLE ASBESTOS FIBRES/ml
B = PROBABLE AND POSSIBLE ASBESTOS FIBRES/ml
Mean Maximum
SCHOOL(A) <0.00020.0007
(B)0.00070.0023
DWELLING (A)0.00070.0028
(B)0.00120.0035
AIRPORT(A)0.00200.1050
(B)0.00250.1060
GORGE(A)0.00030.0013
(B)0.00080.0023
POLICE(A)0.00020.0017
(B)0.00080.0038
HOSPITAL (A)0.00020.0011
(B)0.00080.0022
9 KM SITE (A) <0.00020.0002
(B)0.00050.0017
43KM SITE (A) <0.0002 <0.0002
(B)0.00060.0013
# 1986
Population 356
# 1986 - November 27
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972 - the Principal Agreement
New Broken Hill Consolidated Limited changed its name to
A M & S Mining Limited.
# 1987 - May
State Government demolishes buildings and cleans up
asbestos tailings from 34 acquired properties.
# 1988 - May 25
First successful common law claim by an ABA employee with mesothelioma.
# 1988 - May 28
First common law claim by a former wharf labourer who loadedblue asbestos from Wittenoom onto ships at Point
Samson.
# 1988
Journalist Michael Gill presents documentary on
_Business Sunday"_
# 1988
First victories in court for mesothelioma victims. Judge rules CSR acted with 'continuing, conscious and contumelious' disregard for its workers' safety.
# June - 1988
State Government demolishes buildings and cleans up 15
acquired properties including the school.
# 1988 - September 21
SGIC advised CSR that the insurance policy for Midalco (ABA) is considered to be inoperative.
# 1988 - September 27
CSR acknowledges liability for asbestos related disease at Wittenoom
# 1988 - 1982
SMR = Standard Mortality Rates (per 1,000,000)
SMR - all malignant tumours Male 2153
Female 1270
SMR - mesothelioma Male 28.3
Female 3.3
(Using Population Figure of 17.5 million) Actual Deaths
in Australia would be :
All malignant tumours Male 37677 Female 22225
All mesothelioma 495 58
# 1989 - January 10
First successful common law claim for mesothelioma from a past Wittenoom town resident who lived there as a child.
# 1989
Wittenoom toll tops 500; National Health and Medical Research Council predicts the final toll will be two thousand.
# 1989
The Commissioner for OHS&W wrote to Commonwealth and State Government departments and agencies and to private employers whose employees worked at or visited Wittenoom giving his view of employers' legal obligation to provide a safe working environment for employees.
# 1989 - July 31
Western Australian Police Department closes Hearson Cove Police Station.
# 1989
Population of Wittenoom - 45
# 1989 - December 16
Western Australian Police Department closes Wittenoom Police Station.
Demolition of Dumar Motel
# 1990 - February
Air Monitoring Survey conducted by the Shire of Ashburton
# 1990 - March 19
Wittenoom Nursing Post, based at the old hospital is closed.
# 1990 - March
Air monitoring - Shire of Ashburton.
Personal samples obtained on 2 Shire workers based in Wittenoom.
# 1990 - April
Demolition of Shell garage.
# 1990 - May 15th
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 698.4
Truck Parking - Wittenoom
Background
Council has asked Staff to investigate the movement of heavy traffic within the Wittenoom townsite.
Staff have determined that roadtrains have no right of access south of Carey Street. Such combinations should therefore park at the truck pull off areas recently constructed on each side of Carey Street immediately east of Second Avenue. The incursion of roadtrains further into the townsite is a matter for the Police to handle.
Heavy trucks could be requested to use only Second Avenue plus King and Gregory Streets between Second and Third Avenues plus Third Avenue between Gregory and King Streets as shown on the plan attached to this Agenda. Clockwise circulation around Second, Gregory, Third and King would be necessary to gain access to businesses.
It is suggested that a truck parking bay could then be established on the western side of Second Avenue between Gregory and Beasley Streets. An 8 metre wide bay would fit within the road reserve and if constructed 25 m long would accommodate two semi-trailers and cost $1,800.00.
Signs on the approaches to the town currently state that heavy vehicles are to use Second Avenue, Beasley Street and Sixth Avenue. These would need to be changed to indicate any change from this. The cost to rewrite these signs would be about $200.00.
Recommendation
That Council change the recommended heavy traffic route through Wittenoom to that shown on Attachment F being Second Avenue; Gregory and King Streets between Second and Third Avenues and Third Avenue between Gregory and King Streets circulating around this block clockwise and that staff include an amount of $1,800.00 within the 1990/91 draft budget for a truck bay in Wittenoom.
Soter/Paterson
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 706.1
Asbestos Damages Claim - Eckerman vs Wittenoom Race Club The Shire Clerk advised that solicitors for CSR Limited and Midalco Pty Limited have been instructed to join Ashburton Shire Council as a party to the action by Mr Eckerman and which is a claim for damages suffered by that person as the result of alleged negligence by CSR and Midalco.
The Solicitors sought thewaiving of the prescribed 35 days of notice before an actionmay be commenced against a municipality.
Power/Neil
That Council decline the request for a waiver of the 35 day period of notice and authorise the Shire Clerk to ensure Councils Solicitors, Parker and Parker, take whatever action is necessary to adequately defend the Councils interests in asbestos related claims.
Carried.
# 706.14
Wittenoom Race Club - Public Holiday
The Shire Clerk reported that the Wittenoom Race Club Public Holiday had been gazetted.
# 706.2
Tourism - Tourist Information - Wittenoom
The Shire Clerk advised of concerns expressed to him about the dissemination of tourist information in Wittenoom. One of the businesses in Wittenoom is distributing information and, if this is seen to be satisfactory to the operators, the Shire Office need not continue in that role.
Soter/Duthie
That a meeting of Wittenoom tourist oriented business operators be convened to discuss the matter of tourist information distribution within Wittenoom.
Carried.
# 706.7
Wittenoom Issues - Council Delegation to meet with
Ministers
Power/Cullen
That the Shire Clerk be authorised to submit an Agenda for the meeting with the Premier, Ministers and Members of Parliament and that the Agenda include the following :
# The future of Wittenoom
# Retention and use of State Government property
# Nursing Post
# Police Station
# Hotel
# Historic Precinct
# Retention of Government Services
# Nursing post
# Police Station, etc
# Removal of tailings and revegetation of areas in the town Contribution to cost by State and Local Government as well as local residents.
# Levels of airborne Asbestos contamination in:
# Wittenoom
# Tom Price
# Paraburdoo
# Newman
Legal and Occupational Health position.
# Wittenoom Gorge Tailings Dumps
# Public Access
# Fortescue Floodplain Contamination
# Treatment of Tailings Dumps
# Responsibility for action
# Carried
# 1990 - June 18
Medical Journal of Australia Vol 152, David Ferguson,
Emeritus Professor, The University of Sydney
"Past occupational exposure to asbestos has killed more workers than any other single industrial poison in Australia's history.
Though active steps have increasingly reduced exposure over the past 20 years, Australia still reaps the grim harvest from past high exposures because of the long latency between first contact and onset of disease. Thus the incidence of malignant mesothelioma - Australia has the highest known national incidence rate in the world - is steadily rising and set to rise further.
# 1990 - June 19th
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 717.3
Wittenoom - Legal Issues
Cr Neil reported on a meeting held between Cr Neil, Cr
Duthie, the Shire Clerk, Mr Bill Groves of Parker and Parker and two representatives from SGIO to discuss action taken by CSR and Midalco to join the Ashburton Shire Council in an action taken by a former visitor to Wittenoom.
# 736.20
Wittenoom - Legal Issues
(Background -see above)
The matter was discussed at some length with both Mr Graves and the Shire Clerk expressing concern with regard to the absence of records of the former Tableland Shire Council. This situation may prove more than a problem if CSR and Midalco are successful in an action to join the Council in an action against them at some time in the future.
Comment :
As this matter is quite complex it is suggested it is best if the issues are discussed by Councillors and this agenda item is intended to provide that chance.
Recommendation:
That Council review its position so far as the possibility of further legal action against it, arising from an asbestos related claim, is concerned.
Soter/Duthie
That the matter of Wittenoom legal issues be deferred to
the July meeting of Council pending investigation into the
availability of relevant Shire records being located in the State Archives.
Carried.
# 736.5
Wittenoom Office - Tourist Information
Background
As the result of becoming aware that Mrs Lorraine Thomas distributes tourist information from her business premises in Wittenoom and observing the touris information signs with the international "I" prominently displayed, the Shire
Clerk questioned the need for Council to continue to provide a tourist information service in Wittenoom.
About two years ago the Wittenoom Tourist Association requested Council to accept responsibility for the dissemination of tourist information and the office hours were changed to more adequately cater for tourists needs namely 8.00am to 11.00am and 3.00pm to 5.00pm each day Monday to Friday. It is worthy of note that the Association in putting forward its request, indicated that voluntary assistance would be provided to Mrs Sue Crombe, the Council Staff Member who operates the office Library in Wittenoom. Such assistance has not been forthcoming. As a result of the Council staff views becoming known in Wittenoom, three letters have been received, each urging the Council to continue to offer the tourist information service and in fact proposing that the hours of business be increased to more adequately cater for the tourist demand. The letters generally suggest that the information service provided form the Council Office is without commercial or personal bias.
The Shire President and the Shire Clerk were present at a well attended meeting of the Wittenoom Tourist Association in that town on the night of Thursday 7 June, 1990. The meeting had been called to discuss the future of the Association as it was contended by some that due to difficulty in achieving meetings of the Association due to restrictions imposed by the Constitution of the Association, that the Association was not workable. Those present disagreed and several who were not members, joined immediately. The meeting continued after a period of questions and indications are that the Association is alive and well.
Plans are being made for a TV commercial to promote the Hamersley Range National Park and Wittenoom and it is intended the Association will hold its Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 5 July, 1990.
During the meeting the question of the Tourist Information Service was raised and the Shire Clerk explained that he felt there was little point in two services being provided in such a small community. The members of the Association countered that view by pointing out that every business in Wittenoom in fact acted as a tourist information source. The Council was simply doing its bit.
It was agreed however that the matter should be further discussed at the Annual General Meeting.
While there was acknowledgement that the service provided by the Council through its office was probably as much as could be expected in light of the rating income which accrues to the Local Authority from the Wittenoom townsite, extended hours would be appreciated for more reasons than simply tourism with the facsimile machine service being noted.
Other matters discussed at the meeting included a proposal
for the relocation of the Information Bay to overcome a problem of materials placed on the Information Sign fading rapidly due to direct contact with sunlight. The need to close off to public access, the tailings dumps in the Wittenoom Gorge and a problem with mosquito breeding.
Comment
At the meeting of the Association the Shire Clerk
pointed out that he had simply proposed a review of the situation in Wittenoom so far as the Council Office Library operation is concerned. This is seen to be a normal practice with all operations of the local authority being reviewed from time to time.
Recommendation
That the matter of the hours of opening of the Wittenoom Office Library be reviewed following further approaches by the Wittenoom Tourist Association after its Annual General Meeting in July, 1990 and that correspondents who had sought the continuation of the distribution of tourist information from the office, be advised of this decision.
Soter/Gilchrist
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 737.10
Wittenoom Issues
The Shire Clerk advised that a letter had been received
from Larry Graham, MLA and member for the Pilbara referring
to a misunderstanding of a conversation between the former Shire President, Mr Terry Baker, and himself. Mr Graham reaffirmed Cabinet's decision on the Wittenoom issue; that the current policy of the Government to phase out activity will continue, however the current residents are free to live in the town.
# 737.15
Wittenoom Tourist Information Bay
Soter/Duthie
That the Shire Engineer calculate the cost of facing the Wittenoom Tourist Information Board in the opposite direction on the opposite side of the road to reduce exposure to the sun and attract more attention and table costs for Budget deliberation.
Carried.
# 737.16
Wittenoom Mines and Tailings Dumps – Public Access
Cr Soter presented two (2) options to restrict public access to polluted areas:
# De-gazette Wittenoom Gollie Road from Market Gardens
and erect a fence across the road to prevent access to the mine sites and tailings.
# Erect a 1.8m x 4km cyclone fence parallel to the road from the Market Gardens to prevent access to the mine sites and tailings dumps.
Soter/Gilchrist
That Council express concern at the unrestricted access to tailing dumps at Wittenoom and that the above two options be placed before the Premier of Western Australia as a course of action to be considered to protect the public from contact with asbestos.
Carried.
# 737.17
Munjina Information Bay
Cnr Wittenoom Road and National Highway.
Soter/Duthie
That Staff investigate the possibility of constructing an Information Board at Mujina which subject to Council approval will contain Wittenoom information, tourist information, asbestos information and any other information relevant to the area.
Carried.
# 1990 - July 24th
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 746.6
Wittenoom Planning Committee - Membership
The composition of the Wittenoom Planning Committee
allows for three representatives from the Shire to be selected from the President, Deputy President or Councillor and Shire Engineer. Following the recent Shire elections Crs Robbins, Neil and Soter were appointed to the Committee. The Shire Clerk maintains an interest in the Committee through being its nominated Secretary however the Shire Engineer has not been elected as a member although this was intended.
Cr Soter stressed the importance of the Shire Engineer being a member of the committee.
# Wittenoom Office - Tourist Information
Background
Councillors will remember the report in the Agenda for their June meeting which referred to the need for the continued use of the Council's Wittenoom office as a source of tourist information. It was noted that the Association would review its requirements at the Annual General Meeting of Members.The Shire President and the Shire Clerk attended that
recent Annual General Meeting of the Association when it was resolved that Council should be requested to allow the continued use of its Wittenoom office as a Tourist Information Centre and that hours of operation should be changed from those at present (8.00am to 11.00am and 3pm to 5pm Monday to Friday) during the period from the beginning of July to the middle of October each year to 8.00am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday. When this proposal was discussed at the Association meeting, emphasis was placed on the need for access to the facsimile machine which Council has available and which is the only one available in Wittenoom. Access to the facsimile machine is required more during the tourist season than at other times of the year.
Comment
When Council agreed to vary the office hours in Wittenoom it was as the result of a request by the Tourist Association and at that time the Association had offered voluntary assistance. That assistance has not been forthcoming and it is doubtful that such an arrangement would be acceptable to the Council as it would not be appropriate to have a nonCouncil employee responsible for the premises without supervision.
Assistance could be of value on some occasions such as when a book exchange is being processed to enable the regular employee to concentrate on the book exchange whilst the volunteer would handle tourist enquiries. It is unlikely however that any assistance will be forthcoming as the Wittenoom residents quite rightly point out that during the tourist season everyone in town is busy with tourists and they are unable to help out in the Council office.
A review of the operation of the Wittenoom office has been carried as Mrs Cromb was keen to reduce the number of hours she works and we have found a person who is able to fill in on those occasions when Mrs Cromb is not present. Further information will be available at the Council meeting.
Recommendation
That Council adopt the proposal of the Wittenoom Tourist Association and arrange the hours of operation of the Wittenoom office to be 8.00am to 12 noon and 1.00pm to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday from this date to mid-October and Staff report on the hours which should be adopted during what could be described as the non-tourist (or off) season.
Duthie/Neil
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 761.32
Wittenoom - Legal Issues
At the June meeting of Council it was noted that the matter of legal issues relating to Wittenoom be deferred to the July meeting of Council pending investigation into the
availability of relevant Shire records in the State Archives.
Regrettably sufficient time has not been available for an enquiry into the availability of records and Staff is not able to comment on their availability at this moment.
Recommendation
That the matter of Wittenoom Legal Issues be again raised at the Council meeting to be held in August, 1990.
Power/Stothers
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 765.1
Wittenoom Issues
Mr Ross Guyton addressed Council on various matters relating to Wittenoom. He suggested that brochures warning of the health risk in Wittenoom be made available to the public to comply with the Occupational Health, Safety and Welfare Act. Mr Guyton further commented on the purchase of the Fortescue Hotel by the Government, closing of the school, Police Station and Nursing Post.Mr Guyton expressed his concern at the presence of asbestos tailings on the Wittenoom Race Track and stated that jockeys may be at risk of exposure during the coming Race meeting.He further stated that the Airport and Caravan Park were also at risk from the asbestos fibres.
The State Government has recently been included as a party to a claim against CSR Midalco by former residents of the town of Wittenoom. It was suggested that legally, warning signs alerting the public to the presence of asbestos fibres, are not good evidence in Court. Mr Guyton closed by suggesting the closure of the road to the Minesite by fencing and allowing access to Hancock employees only through a gate.
Mr Guyton departed the meeting at 3.55pm.
Cr Cullen departed the meeting at 3.56pm.
Power/Neil
That Council erect a sign warning of asbestos tailings at the Wittenoom Race Track and advise the Race Club that the track be watered between races and jockeys required to wear Class M face masks for protection.
Carried.
# 1990 August
Report by the West Australian Advisory Committee on
Hazardous Substances.
2.4 Management plans should include all reasonably practicable steps to minimise exposure to asbestos fibres.
7.1 ... mesothelioma can occur in association with quite low levels of exposure to (blue) asbestos
4.3It is important to appreciate that for asbestos to cause asbestosis, cancer or the lung or mesothelioma, its fibres must be dispersed in the atmosphere and be of small enough size to be inhaled into the small air passages of the lungs.
For this to happen, the fibres must be less than about 3 microns in diameter and less than about 200 microns in length. Fibres of this size are not visible individually to the naked eye. It follows therefore that visible clumps of asbestos fibres are not necessarily hazardous unless they also give rise to invisible asbestos fibres of respirable size suspended in the surrounding atmosphere....there is certainly no clear evidence in Australia of the lack of environmentally-exposed cases, or the levelling off rates found in other countries, apart from South Africa where crocidolite is still being produced.
# 1990 - August 21st
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 779.15
On 19 June, 1990, Council was advised of a meeting attended by Crs Neil and Duthie and the Shire Clerk with Mr Bill Groves of Parker and Parker. Also in attendance were two representatives of the State Government Insurance Office. Legal issues pertaining to Wittenoom were discussed at length with concern being expressed with regard to the absence of records of the former Tableland Shire Council.
Following that meeting, the Shire Clerk contacted the then Secretary for Local Government with a view to the possibility of funding being available for the employment of a researcher to investigate the location of the Shire records. The Departmental advice was to the effect that funding was not available however the Local Government Secretary had enquired at the State Archives and had been informed that the Tableland records were held there but that the Authority of the Premier's Department would be necessary to allow viewing.
An officer of State Archives recently visited Tom Price and was requested to provide details of the Tableland material held in the Archives. That particular person called later to advise that there were no Tableland records in State Archives.
As can be seen, this matter is considerably confused and must be resolved if Council is to be properly prepared to deal with any future legal issues relating to Wittenoom and asbestos related diseases. Research from this distance ie., Tom Price to Perth, is difficult and it is proposed that after further enquiries by the Shire Clerk, should the Tableland Shire records be not located, Staff be authorised to engage the services of an appropriate person to research the issue in the Metropolitan area. This proposal is not put forward lightly and is the result of frustration following thorough searching of Council properties in Onslow, Wittenoom and Tom Price aimed at locating the missing records which include the original Minute Books and Rate
Books of the Tableland Road Board dating back to the turn of the century.
Recommendation
That the Shire Clerk be authorised to make further
enquiries with regard to the location of the former Tableland Road Board and Shire records with the Department of Local Government, the State Archives and any other likely source and, failing those enquiries producing the records, the Clerk be authorised to engage the services of a researcher to investigate the availability of any Shire of Tableland records held in any locality in the Metropolitan area.
Power/Paterson
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 779.3
Wittenoom Planning Committee - Membership
Background
The membership of the Wittenoom Planning Committee was brought to Council's attention at the July meeting (746.6) and the omission of the Shire Engineer as a representative of that Committee was discussed.
Comment
This item has been included in the Agenda to allow
Council to review the membership of the Planning Committee with a view to including the Shire Engineer as a representative.
Recommendation
That Council review the membership of the Wittenoom
Planning Committee.
Resolved
That this item be deferred until the September meeting of Council.
# 779.9
Wittenoom Office - Tourist Information
Background
At its July, 1990 meeting (761.26) Council resolved that
the office hours for the Wittenoom Office be from 8am to 12 noon and 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday from July to mid-October during the tourist season.
Comment
Wittenoom Staff has been advised of the change and have commenced to work the altered hours. To offset the cost of the additional hours being worked during this period it is proposed that during the off-season the office hours revert back to four hours a day from 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm Monday to Friday, from November to June each year. This reduces the additional cost of longer office hours during the tourist season to a total of $113, which is a minimal cost considering the service provided to the public and tourists.
Recommendation
That the Wittenoom Office of Council operate from the hours of 9am to 11am and 2pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday, from November to June each year during the non-tourist season.
Stothers/Gilchrist
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 1990 - September 18th
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 804.1
Wittenoom Planning Committee - Membership
Background
The membership of the Wittenoom Planning Committee was brought to Council's attention at the July meeting (746.6) and the omission of the Shire Engineer as a representative of that Committee was discussed.
Comment
This item has been included in the Agenda to allow Council to review the membership of the Planning Committee with a view to including the Shire Engineer as a representative.
Recommendation
That Council review the membership of the Wittenoom
Planning Committee.
Soter/Power
That Council appoint an additional member to the Wittenoom Planning Committee and that that person be the Wittenoom Councillor.
Carried.
The Committee membership therefore consists of the Shire President, Deputy Shire President, Shire Engineer and Cr Soter.
# 804.15
Aerodromes - Onslow and Wittenoom
Background
The WA Municipal Association referred to correspondence by the Minister for Shipping and Aviation Support following release of the Federal Budget. Aerodromes in WA fall into one of three categories, they are
# Commonwealth owned - where negotiations are in train - these include Derby, Exmouth, Wyndham and Carnarvon.
# Commonwealth owned where the Government will invite public expressions of interest in ownership and these include : Onslow and Wittenoom.
# Others are part of the ALOP: these include places like Albany, Port Hedland, Bunbury.
WAMA advises that is seems the issues which will surround negotiations will be :
# Upgrade of Aerodromes prior to takeover.
# The size of capitalised social benefits subsidies or social benefit subsidies.
# Which Aerodromes will qualify for these subsidies.
# Future Commonwealth/State Government involvement.
# The Association wished to be kept informed of negotiations.
The letter from the Minister points out that as negotiations had commenced with Council for the transfer of the Onslow Aerodrome to full local ownership, it is the Governments desire to progress those negotiations to a mutually satisfactory conclusion. If this cannot be achieved, the Government will consider seeking public expressions of interest.
For Wittenoom, the Government will invite public expressions of interest however, because the Airport is in the Shire, representatives of the Department of Transport and Communications and the Department of Administrative Services will jointly contact Council to explain what is involved in the tender process. It will be open to Council to submit an expression of interest.
Where transfers cannot be effected through the processes outlined above the Government will examine other options. If agreement cannot be reached eg. with the State Government, further options will be considered including downgrading or closure of the Aerodromes. Two important features of the arrangements include phasing in of a location specific charge and the provision of a social benefit subsidy. The location specific charge will be introduced at remaining Commonwealth Aerodromes and those under the ALOP, ie., landing charges imposed by the Department of Transport and Communications will be revised to recover the costs incurred by the Commonwealth at each location. The charges will be subject to a maximum.
In implementing the programme the Government will be cognisant of the social access and equity needs of local communities. Social benefit subsidies will be provided at Aerodromes where this is necessary to facilitate the provision of reasonable standards of social amenity to their local community. On current indications the Aerodromes at Onslow and Wittenoom are not expected to qualify for such subsidy.
Comment
It is true that there have been negotiations with regard to the possibility of Council taking over the Onslow Aerodrome. Because of the need to significantly increase charges to cover the cost of operation of the Aerodrome and also concerns with regard to how charges would be collected from commuter operators there has been no rush to enter into an arrangement with the Commonwealth Government. It is now clear the matter must be considered in greater depth.So far as Wittenoom is concerned, it is interesting to note the Government intention to invite public expressions of interest. The removal and/or covering of asbestos tailings should be addressed prior to any change of ownership of this erodrome.
It is clear that Staff should now make positive efforts with regard to both Aerodromes for report to Council at its October or November meetings.
# 804.19
Wittenoom - Meeting with the Premier
Background
Attached to this Agenda is a copy of notes prepared as the basis for a meeting with the Premier, the Hon CM Lawrence, MLA, to discuss the Wittenoom issue. Councillors will recall the decision to seek the meeting with the Premier, and others, following the closure of the Wittenoom Nursing Post. Staff has accepted, on behalf of Council the invitation by the Premier to meet with her at Newman on 8 October, 1990. The Premier will be in Newman for a Cabinet Meeting and so it could be expected that other Cabinet Members will take part in the discussions. The proposal is that the Council delegation will breakfast with Cabinet at 7.15am with the formal meeting at 8.30am.
Council needs to resolve its representation noting that the Shire President will be away from the District at that time.
Tentatively, the Deputy Shire President, Cr Neil, Cr Soter and Cr Power along with the Shire Clerk and Shire Engineer have been nominated as the Council's representation.
There is a need for the Council delegation, to meet to discuss the issues at length to ensure an adequate presentation to the State Government.
Recommendation
That Council nominate its representatives to meet with the Hon CM Lawrence, MLA, in Newman on Monday, 8 October, 1990 to discuss the Wittenoom issue.
Duthie/Stothers
That Crs Neil, Soter, Power and the Shire Clerk and Shire Engineer attend the meeting with the Hon CM Lawrence, MLA, in Newman on Monday, 8 October, 1990 to discuss the Wittenoom issue.
Carried.
ATTACHMENT - Notes for Proposed Meeting with the Premier
Preamble
On 20 April, 1990 the Council of the Shire of Ashburton sought a meeting with the Premier to discuss the Wittenoom issues. The catalyst for the request for the meeting was the closure of the Wittenoom Nursing Post. Since that correspondence Council has been given the opportunity for discussions with the Deputy Premier, the Hon Ian Taylor, when a draft agenda for a meeting was discussed. There was general agreement with regard to the agenda, however the Deputy Premier suggested that further information should be given in support of the various issues which the Council wished to discuss. That further information follows.
# Levels of Airborne Asbestos Contamination
The Ashburton Shire Council believes that the level of airborne asbestos contamination in the towns of Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Newman should be ascertained and used as a guide towards the establishment of a level of contamination which would be acceptable for Wittenoom.
The Pilbara mining towns have been nominated as "control areas" for the purpose of established a contamination level because it is contended that asbestos fibres can generally be found in the Pilbara and more particularly in the Hamersley Ranges. There is a general acceptance of that fact which should be applied to the Wittenoom situation.
Along with the consideration of the appropriate level of airborne asbestos contamination, consideration needs to be given to the legal and occupational health position of both the State Government and the Local Authority. Advice that Council has received shows the need for the public to be warned of the presence of asbestos fibres and some action has been taken in that regard.
So far as occupational health is concerned, a survey conducted recently by way of personal monitoring of two Council employees shows the level of contamination is such that the workers should wear protective clothing only when involved in particularly dusty occupations such as lawn mowing.
# The Future of Wittenoom
Retention and Use of State Government Property
The Council of the Shire of Ashburton is of the view that efforts must be made to secure the preservation of the general store, picture theatre and the Fortescue Hotel as part of a historic precinct. It is not suggested that the buildings have any great significance from the point of view of age as they are all relatively modern, however it is the fact of their locality and the history of that locality which causes them to be significant. It is not the intention of the Council to promote the buildings in a tourist sense but simply to ensure their retention for the benefit of future generations.
Other buildings which the Council believes should be retained include St Marks Church, the Hospital and the Police Station with the latter two buildings being promoted for preservation from a service point of view rather than historical although, in the future, both will be important.
The Fortescue Hotel is of particular significance as Council has proposed that responsibility for the place should pass to the Local Authority for it to continue to operate - either in a management or a leasehold arrangement. Income derived by the Council from this venture would to some way towards offsetting the loss of income suffered as the result of land and buildings which were previously rateable being acquired by the State Government and becoming non-rateable. Present rating income does not make an appropriate contribution to the cost of services which Council maintains in the area. Those services include, among others, roads, public toilets, rubbish removal, a Library and street lights.
# Retention of Government Services
Council has been advised that it is the Policy of your Government that existing services available in Wittenoom would be retained. Since Council was made aware of that Policy, the Police Station has been closed and most recently the Nursing Post has been closed. In each case it seems to be an action not in accord with Government Policy. Additionally, it has caused organisations such as Telecom to withdraw services which could prove to be to the detriment of a small resident population and the very large number of tourists who visit the area each year.
# Removal of Tailings and Re-vegetation of Areas of the Town
It is the wish of the Local Authority that areas of the townsite which could be considered to be subject to human activity should be stripped of tailings, resurfaced where that is practical and revegetated. Areas in which human activity is not necessary, and can be discouraged, can be barricaded by fencing or the appropriate placement of obstruction (such as large boulders) on tracks and be revegetated.
Council is of the view that if this action is taken the level of asbestos fibres in the atmosphere will be further reduced. Propositions put forward in the past for the clean-up and revegetation have proposed contributions by the State Government, the Local Government and residents.
If the course of action outline above was adopted, the cost of the clean-up would not be significant when compared to estimates previously prepared and involved, I assume, the almost total removal of tailings from the townsite.
# Wittenoom Gorge Tailings Dumps
Public Access
At a recent meeting of Councillors of the Shire of Ashburton a proposal to fence off the tailings dumps from Cathedral Pool to the Settlement, was discussed and it was agreed that the proposition should be put to the State Government.The fencing would be of a type which would prevent vehicles leaving the road surface and should be of a style to make clambering over or through as difficult as possible. A gateway to the mine should be brought close to the edge of the road with only one entry point and a more substantial structure should be provided to prevent people easily entering the minesite and tailings area.
At the same meeting of Councillors it was suggested, as an alternative to the fencing, that the road should be closed to the public from Cathedral Pool.
# Fortescue Floodplain Contamination
Unless something is done to stabilised the tailings dumps the contamination of the Fortescue River floodplain will continue.
# Treatment of Tailings Dumps
As mentioned above, some positive action must be taken to stabilise the tailings dumps if further contamination of the floodplain and the surrounding area is to be prevented. It is appreciated that the nature of treatment is difficult to resolve and may be expensive. The view of the Ashburton Shire Council is that it is a question which must be faced at some time and it is better to do it now to prevent further contamination.
# Responsibility for Action
There seems to be some question with regard to who is responsible for the tailings dumps; he one issue which is clear to Council however, is that the LocalAuthority is not responsible. Council would be keen to co-operate however, in matters such as ensuring the maintenance of fences should it be decided that was an appropriate course of action to adopt.
# 805.3
Fogging - Mosquito Problem - Wittenoom
Cr Soter requested information on the chemical used when recently fogging mosquitoes was undertaken in Wittenoom recently. The Shire Engineer advised that the chemical was Malathine and advised that 'hand out' pamphlets will be forwarded to Cr Soter for his information. These had been distributed to residents prior to spraying.
# 805.4
Septic Tanks - Baiting - Wittenoom
Cr Soter enquired as to the responsibility of baiting septic tanks. The Shire Engineer advised that it is the responsibility of the owner to completely seal the septic tanks. He will investigate the baiting of septic tanks by Council Staff.
# 1990 - October 16
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 820.6 Septic Tanks Baiting - Wittenoom (Ref. 805.4)
Background
Mosquito numbers in Wittenoom have been at a higher level than usual this year and there is some contention about the efficiency of septic tank and oxidation pond treatment with larvicide.
Comment
A review has shown that all septic tanks in the town area and the Hotel oxidation pond have been treated with Baytex on a six weekly cycle. However the Airport septics have been treated by the Commonwealth employee there and the settlement has not been covered by our operations. These two areas will now be covered on the same day that the town septics are treated.Further, a supply of Abate is being despatched to Wittenoom to treat any stagnant water originating from leaking water valves or other sources and the rainwater tank at the Hospital Site is to be treated to stop larval development.
Recommendation
That Council endorse the ongoing treatment of septic tanks in Wittenoom pending the full sealing of these systems by their owners.
Soter/Gilchrist
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 828.7
Wittenoom Asbestos Tailings
Cr Soter requested that Council make a firm proposal to the State Government regarding a programme for cleaning up asbestos tailings in Wittenoom.
Soter/Power
That Council make a firm proposal to the State Government on a programme to remove the asbestos tailings in Wittenoom as soon as possible. Carried.
# 1990 - October 18
An agreement was made, to be effective as from and including the 28th February 1991, whereby Hancock Prospecting Pty Limited, Wright Prospecting Pty Limited, Hamersley Iron Pty Limited, A M & S Mining Limited, Pilbara Port Railroad and Resource Company Limited and the Hancock Memorial Foundation Limited, Hancock Prospecting Pty Limited and Wright Prospecting Pty Limited assigned all their right title and interest in and to the Principal Agreement to Hamersley Iron Pty Limited.
# 1990 - December 18
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 883.15
Shire Clerk's Report - Wittenoom
Background
The Hon Carmen Lawrence, MLA, Premier of Western Australia, has written to the Council as the result of the meeting in Newman on 8 October, 1990. The Premier has indicated it will be helpful to clarify some of the commitments made at the meeting and detail actions that logically follow.
This item will be dealt with in a different format to the usual reports of Officers in that the particular paragraph taken from the letter from the Premier will be indented with a Staff comment to follow and, where appropriate, a recommendation.
# Level of Activity
_ Firstly, I state that Government remains committed to its 1984 policy, while the Shire representatives reiterated that the intent of their proposals was to retain the present level of activity in Wittenoom and not to increase it._
Comment
The comment by the Premier is in accord with Council
Policy.
Cr Duthie departed the meeting at 2.25pm and returned at 2.27pm.
Recommendation
That the Premier of Western Australia be advised that her understanding of the position of the Council with regard to level of activity in Wittenoom is correct.
Soter/Power
That the Premier of Western Australia be asked to explain her understanding of the 1984 Wittenoom policy in light of the removal of essential services ie. Police and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Carried
# Environmental Standards
I have written to the Minister for Health seeking reasons why the Health Department of Western Australia has not endorsed an acceptable level of environmental exposure to airborne blue asbestos fibres in this State. In the meantime, it would be helpful if the Shire could forward details of its present air monitoring program to the Department of Regional Development and the North West.
Comment
Councillors would undoubtedly support any move towards the establishment of a standard for an acceptable level of environmental exposure to airborne blue asbestos fibres. Details of air monitoring to date will be presented at the Council meeting with the appropriate explanation.
Recommendation
That the Premier of Western Australia be advised of Council's wish to be informed of the response by the Minister of Health on the matter of an acceptable level of environmental exposure to airborne blue asbestos fibres and that details of the air monitoring program conducted by the Council be made available to the Department of Regional Development and the North West.
Soter/Power
That the Premier of Western Australia be advised strongly of the Council's wish to be informed of the response by the Minister for Health on the matter of an acceptable level of environmental exposure to airborne blue asbestos fibres and that details of the air monitoring program conducted by the Council be made available to the Department of Regional Development and the North West.
Carried
# Further Cleanup
It would be appreciated if the Shire could identify those areas of the town that are considered in need of further clean-up. A preliminary estimate of the extent of removal and costs involved is essential before Government considers the level of contribution to the further clean-up and other aspects of the Shire's submission to Government.
Your assessment should identify areas where the generation of dust could expose visitors to the town to high levels of airborne blue asbestos fibres in a relatively short period and provide some indication of the level of commitment from your Council, business proprietors and residents of Wittenoom should also be included.
Comment
The Shire Engineer has prepared a report which details the proposed method for clearing asbestos rich soils and estimates of cost. For reasons of simplification a copy of that report is attached to this Agenda. It can be noted however that the proposal is that the town should be divided into seven zones, with the estimate for the clean-up of the first six of those zones at $60,000 each.
The seventh zone, the race track and recreation reserve, is estimated to cost $25,000 in addition to work required on the track itself and the race club movement areas -these works should be carried out by others. It is also intended that roads which are still used and which were originally sealed using asbestos tailings as the aggregate will be resealed as part of Councils normal road works programme.
While the ideal would be for all of the clean-up programme to be completed in the shortest possible time, Government may accept staging with perhaps 1, 2 or 3 of the nominated zones being given attention each year.
It is important to note that the Premier sought an indication of the level of commitment from Council, business proprietors and residents of Wittenoom, suggesting that such a commitment was expected rather than the State Government being entirely responsible for the clean-up. Council needs to discuss that matter, it may propose the road resealing as an adequate contribution although Staff is of the view that such a proposal may not be accepted by the State.
Additionally, there will be value in referring the matter to the Wittenoom Planning Committee for its comments with regard to the clean-up proposal and a commitment to contribution. Councillors will remember that this was previously discussed.
Recommendation
That Council consider its commitment to the cost of the clean-up of the Wittenoom townsite and that the matter of the clean-up generally be referred to the Wittenoom Planning Committee for comment and subsequent resolution by Council before reference to the Premier.
Soter/Paterson
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried
# Implications for the Shire
I was concerned to hear that the Shire had not developed a full appreciation of the implications of the proposals they submitted to Government. Under the program adopted by the State Government, our policy towards Wittenoom takes in duty of care not only to Wittenoom residents, but also to visitors to the Hamersley Range National Park, the taxpayers of Western Australia and future generations.
Comment
It is assumed the Premier is referring to the buildings in the town and the comment made at the meeting in Wittenoom that the Council would need to consider the economics associated with the Hotel before accepting a transfer arrangement.
The economics of the Hotel are of greater significance now as in recent times Staff has become aware of the fact that the WA Tourism Commission has refused to accept bookings for the Fortescue Hotel which has resulted in the loss of most of the tourist bus business previously enjoyed by the Hotel.
On the issue of the other buildings in the town which the Council wishes to see retained, the comment was made that the maintenance of those structures would not be a significant problem to the Local Authority however it should be noted that an allocation of funds would be required, on a regular basis, to ensure the structures did not deteriorate to the point where they were no longer of any value. In fact, there is a concern with regard to vandalism and some positive action needs to be taken now to exclude people from the building to ensure there is no further deterioration.
# 1991 - January 29
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 892.1
Gordon Oxer Memorial Hall - Wittenoom
Cr Soter advised that the cut out switch within the Hall was not working and an electrician was required to do maintenance work. The Shire Clerk advised that he would attend to this matter.
# 893.11
Wittenoom Planning Committee Meeting
The Shire Clerk advised that a meeting date needed to be set for the Wittenoom Planning Committee Meeting. Soter/Power
That the Wittenoom Planning Committee Meeting be held in Wittenoom on Thursday, 7 February, 1991.
# 906.8
Race Course - Wittenoom
Cr Soter requested that the Shire Engineer report on the condition of the Race Course in Wittenoom to the West Australian Turf Club. He explained the WA Turf Club had allocated two days for the Wittenoom Races for 1991 but only on the proviso that the races be held anywhere else than in Wittenoom.
# 1991 - February 7, Thursday
Wittenoom Planning Committee Meeting
Business Arising from Minutes
4.1 Signs
Mr Guyton noted that the Shire has erected a further two warning signs, one at the entrance to the town and one at the entrance to the Racecourse.
4.2 Hamersley Range National Park
The draft Management Plan for the Park is to be re-written. Committee members felt that Yampire Gorge history needs to be preserved.
4.3 Royal Flying Doctor
There is still some confusion over the arrangements for provision of a medical service to Wittenoom. The Shire Clerk is to follow up with the Health Department. Dr Manton was to provide a service. It was reported that the Royal Flying Doctor Service radio equipment had been relocated to Tom Price and it was felt that this left an unfair responsibility on the residents to provide a medical service if an injury occurs to travellers.
# 1991 - February 19
Ashburton Shire Council Minute
# 934.8
Wittenoom - WA Tourism Commission
Background
Council has received a copy of a letter addressed to the General Manager of the Western Australian Tourism Commission from the Wittenoom Tourist Association. The decision by the Tourism Commission that its retail outlets will no longer sell any tour which visits Wittenoom is unfair. The Wittenoom Tourist Association deserves Council support in its efforts regarding the action taken by the Tourist Commission.
Recommendation
That Council question the Western Australian Tourism Commission on its decision not to promote tours to the Wittenoom townsite and seek the rational (sic) for its decision as this could effect tourism in the Pilbara region.
Soter/Paterson
That the recommendation be adopted.
Carried.
# 1991 - June
Population 45
# 1991 September
Leaked Confidential document from Mines Dept. Summary of Asbestos Occurrence in WA Mines as measured in 1985.
# 1991 September 17
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute 116.6
Resource Development - Iron Ore Mining adjacent to Bee Gorge Wittenoom.
Cr Soter advised of discussions he had had with the Consultants for the Hancock proposal to mine iron ore adjacent to Bee Gorge. A conveyor system 4kms in length is proposed to a stockpiling site where the ore will be road transported 60kms to link up with the Hamersley Iron railway. The mine has an expected life span of 15 to 20 years with an estimated 200m tonnes of ore being mined over this period.
# 1992 - February
Nevill Inquiry into Asbestos Issue commences
# 1992 - February 18
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
242.8
Report on air-borne fibre monitoring within Wittenoom.
The majority of airborne asbestos fibres were detected near the Caravan Park by the intersection of the M29, Nanutarra - Wittenoom Road and Second Avenue during east to southerly winds. During eighteen months, on six occasions airborne asbestos fibres were detected in samples taken at this station.
Airborne asbestos fibres also detected at other stations. The frequency of positive samples and amount of fibres sampled (up to twenty-three in one day) suggest that the source is reasonably close and that wind velocities are strong in this location to lift, on 1 August, 1990 one BUNDLE of asbestos fibres.
This leads to the assumption that this is mainly caused by traffic on this major intersection; this may be moving vehicles of parking vehicles using the road side or nearby vacant land.
(How about the number of aircraft landing and taking off on a near-by airstrip which is grossly contaminated with tailings?)
# 1992 February 26
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972 Principal Agreement
A M & S Mining Limited changed its name to Hamersley Resources Limited.
# 1992 - May
Air monitoring - NIOHS/Wittenoom Inquiry Study
Air Sampling results :
840 minutes sampling tailings, mine and mill 0.014
785 minutes sampling in town store <0.003
1130 minutes static sampling outside hotel <0.002
1170 minutes static sampling Settlement road <0.002 903 minutes static sampling car park - store <0.002
1274 minutes static sampling Mill w/shop <0.002
Sampling equivalent to exposure of slightly over 4 days.
# 1992 - September
Nevill Inquiry reports to Premier Carmen Lawrence MLA
# 1992 - August
Nevill Report published.
"Many Pilbara and Wittenoom residents strongly opposed the closure of the town. They believed the health risk from asbestos to be much lower than the risk during the mine's operation."
" .. felt increasingly powerless as essential and other services like Police and medical services were withdrawn."
# 1992
Recommendations of the Nevill Report rejected by Cabinet. This "INQUIRY INTO THE ASBESTOS ISSUES AT WITTENOOM"
Recommenations :
1. That the town should stay open and be cleaned up in one program as submitted by the Shire of Ashburton.
The central business district, the recreation centre, the caravan park, the hospital and the residential area bounded by Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Avenues should be preferentially. developed.
2. The tailings at the mine site should be cleaned up over a five to ten year period. Options include pumping tailings into the mines, or dams, or consolidating and reprofiling dumps, covering them with top soil and re-vegetation.
3. Wittenoom should be allowed to develop as a tourist centre and include a museum and memorial to commemorate those affected by asbestos related diseases.
4. The system of compensation for past workers and residents needs to be rationalised. In particular, a Compensation Board needs to be formed to deal with past non-working residents.
# 1992 - July 3
Western Australian Police Department closes Goldsworthy Police Station. Town closed by mining company.
# 1992 - July 21
Asburton Shire Council Minute
# 387.3
Rateability of Temporary Reserves - Hamersley Iron Pty Ltd and AS & M Mining Limited - Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972
Background
(Council had disallowed an objection to the Rate Book by the above mining companies in relation to rates assessments for thirteen Temporary Reserves - one of which covers most of Wittenoom Gorge and includes the tailings areas.)
Appeal by the mining companies to the Lands Tribunal resulted in a decision that the holding of a Temporary Reserve does not fall within the definition of owner(ship) as specified in the Local Government Act 1960. In addition to this the Land Tribunal also stated :
" the Agreement is not a Statute, it is not an Act of Parliament, but rather merely an agreement between two companies and Parliament of the State ratifying the act of the State's executive branch and entering into that Agreement. Such an Agreement cannot modify an existing State Law."
# 1992 - October 2
Assent given to amend the Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Act 1972 in the form of the introduction of : Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Amendment Act 1992.
# 1992 - October 31
Fortescue Hotel closes
# 1992 - November 4
Hon Ernie Bridge MLA, Minister for the North-West announces that Government will continue its policy to phase-down activity in Wittenoom and demolish all Government-owned buildings there, including the Fortescue Hotel.
# 1992 - November 17
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 489.13 Insurance Policy Documents - SGIO
The SGIO had recently been requested to provide a copy of all Councils Insurance Policies in order to keep our files up to date and to provide information to (our solicitors) for assessment of exclusion clauses related to asbestos.
The SGIO indicate "I also reiterate our previous advice to you, that there is no cover for any claim relating to asbestos, or asbestos products and enclose a copy of a letter forwarded to Council in 1989.
The recent Court decision of CRA has made it quite clear that Council could be exposing themselves to punitive or exemplary damages as a result of allowing their employees to work in a known hazard area without appropriate protective clothing.
We reiterate that your Workers Compensation Policy with SGIO excludes liability for any punitive and exemplary damages."
Discussion ensued on this matter.
Resolved
That the Manager of SGIO - Karratha be invited to attend Councils December 1992 meeting to discuss this issue.
# 1992 - December 6
Western Australian Police Department closes Koolan Island Police Station.
# 1992 - December 15
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 512.1
Council's Insurance Policies - Wittenoom.
At 10.22am Mrs Susan Courthope, Regional Manager of the SGIO Karratha, waited on Council to discuss Council's insurance policies in relation to Wittenoom.
Mrs J Gordon of the SGIO was also in attendance.
Mrs Courthope advised Council an exclusion to Council's insurance policy in 1986 leaves Council with no cover for workers in Wittenoom. This could result in punitive damages against Council over the next 20 - 30 years.
Council should plan what it intends to do with regard to its Council staff in Wittenoom.
Following the precedent set in the Brett Wyatt Taylor case where a former resident has been awarded damages by the Court, there are implications for Council employees especially where housing is provided.
The Shire President thanked Mrs Courthope and Ms Gordon for attending the meeting and invited them to join Council for morning tea.
# 1993
CSR/Midalco served with a writ engaging it in a class action initiated in the United States by shipyard workers exposed to asbestos fibre mined and milled at Wittenoom.
# 1993 - January 26
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 568.1
Cr Soter enquired at the progress of the previous Council decision to relocate the satellite dish in Wittenoom to improve television reception. The Shire Engineer will pursue this matter.
# 1993 - February 16
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 593.3
Cr Soter advised that TV transmission in Wittenoom is still of a poor quality.
The Shire Engineer advised that Mr Bill Lazic has been instructed to make contact with Cr Soter to rectify the situation.
# 1993 - May 18
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 674.3
Cr Soter requested that immediate action be taken to resolve the maintenance of the TV transmitter in Wittenoom. She advised that the NORSAT service had been tardy and unsatisfactory.
The Shire Engineer is to investigate this matter.
# 1993 - July 27,28
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 712.8
Wittenoom Airport
The Department of Transport and Communication has advised Council that it will be surrendering its lease for the Wittenoom Aerodrome, effective from the 1 August, 1993.
This action will enable the State to decide whether it wishes to retain the aerodrome from the 1 August, 1993. If the State decides not to retain the aerodrome it will be closed, however the airstrip can continue being used in emergency situation, but must be authorised.
The Shire President suggested that Council look at an alternative site for an airstrip, and the Shire Engineer was requested to investigate options for a suitable site.
# 1993 - July 27,28
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 729.6
Cr Soter advised Council that the situation regarding the repair of the TV transmitter by NORSAT had gone on for far too long. She suggested that Council consider purchasing a second transmitter to obtain ABC reception, and that the original transmitter be returned by NORSAT to be used for spare parts.
Resolved
That the matter of purchasing a new transmitter for Wittenoom television reception be considered in the budget discussions.
Clement/Soter
That Council include an amount of $2750 for the purchase of
a Bemac satellite receiver for Wittenoom.
Carried.
# 1993 - August
Hancock sell 74 blocks and 4 houses in Wittenoom. The blocks sold for $150 - $300. One person purchased 15 blocks. An unimproved block rated at $110
# 1993 - August
The Deputy Premier, the Hon Hendy Cowan, MLA visited Wittenoom and announced that he wanted to accelerate a strategy to deal with the problem of asbestos contamination in the town and surrounding areas.
# 1993 - August 17
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 737.7
Wittenoom Water Supply
Cr Soter advised that there had been several major failures of the water supply due to the deteriorated condition of the service.
The Shire Engineer, Mr Richard Mann, had prepared a report on the Wittenoom Water Supply. The Shire President thanked Mr Mann for the comprehensive report and advised it would form the basis for future discussions with appropriate parties in trying to have the water supply upgraded.
# 1993 - September
Report of the Select Committee (Graham Report) inquiry into Asbestos issue commences.
# 1993 - September 21
Shire of Ashburton Minute
# 784.14
Cr Soter advised that Wittenoom's power generator had been relocated to another town and had been replaced with an inferior powered model. This severely restricted the ability to generate power sources to the Wittenoom townsite.
Resolved
That Council write to the State Energy Commission WA expressing concern at the removal of the original generator from the Wittenoom Power station.
# 1993 - October 19
Shire of Ashburton Minute
# 798.4
The Shire Clerk advised that SECWA had replied to Councils enquiry regarding the removal of a generator from Wittenoom and would be replacing it with a smaller capacity unit. The generating capacity would still be able to cope with peak loads and a saving in operating costs would be achieved.
A copy of the SECWA letter will be provided to Cr Soter.
# 1993 - November
Airport is officially closed.
# 1993 - November 8
Transcript of Evidence given to the Select Committee
(Graham Report)
Alan Rogers, Industrial Hygienist re mesothelioma - "the harder you look for it the more you find."
6%-7% of mesothelioma cases in Western Australia are attributed to environmental exposure in the living next to factories or contact with work clothes.
Direct contact with Wittenoom accounts for 7% of deaths from mesothelioma in Australia.
# 1993 - November 16
Shire of Ashburton Council Minute
# 840.1
Hancock Resources Leases - Wittenoom
Cr Soter advised for general information that Hancock Prospecting Leases had been taken over.
# 1993 - December 15
Western Australian Police Department closes Shay Gap Police Station.Mining town closed.
# 1993 - December 17
Government appoints engineering consultants CMPS & F to assess the practicability and cost ofcleaning-up asbestos from the Wittenoom town site.
# The issue needs to be resolved so that the tourism based around the Hamersley Ranges and the Karijini National Park can be placed on a firmer basis.
# Wittenoom residents would not be forced to leave the town but the Government would not encourage new residents to the town nor would the Fortescue Hotel be re-opened.
# 1993
Supreme Court of Western Australia
21 writs lodged with Supreme Court of WA regarding all asbestos related diseases.
# 1994 January 5
Letter from the Department of Transport and Communications to the Manager, Water Authority WAadvising that the Department was no longer responsible for the airport and therefore the water rate assessment should be sent to the Shire of Ashburton.
(The Shire, the State and Federal Governments each appreciated that to pay the water rates would indicate an acceptance of responsibility for the airport - and any litigation which may arise from such responsibility.
Less timid were members of the Wittenoom sub-branch of the St Johns Ambulance Brigade. With enough money in the account to pay the bill, the Wittenoom sub-branch of St Johns became (unwittingly) the defacto airport management.)
# 1994
CMPS&F Report to Building Management Authority
Points out that the reported air monitoring data for asbestos at Wittenoom is not significantly higher than asbestos concentrations reported elsewhere
EXCEPT
that the asbestos fibres found in Wittenoom air monitoring programmes are effectively ALL crocidolite (blue) fibres. In other urban environments the dominant fibre is that of chrysotile (white) asbestos.
The report details and costs ($2.63m) a method of rehabilitation but recognises that any management plan to maintain this is not likely to succeed.
Persons who own their properties freehold cannot be forced to comply with some of the conditions that would need to apply eg. not to dig or disturb the ground which would mean no more gardening, no new fences, walls, tank-stands and so on.
The study team took samples of dust from various locations in town to determine the extent of secondary disturbance from the ground to flat elevated building ledges.
On the gas heater in the laundry at the rear of the hotel, 2.5 metres above the ground
REPORTS
Report of Operations at Wittenoom Gorge, WA
1978 The Health Hazard at Wittenoom
Public Health Department
1979 Exposure to Crocidolite in Wittenoom
Public Health Department
1984 Report on the Health Hazards of Asbestos
National Health and Medical Research Council 1985 Wittenoom Environmental Engineering Study
Geraldton Building Co Pty Ltd
1986 Wittenoom Airborne Asbestos Study Department of Conservation and Environment
1990 Asbestos Cement Products
The Western Australian Advisory Committee on Hazardous
Substances
1992 Inquiry into Asbestos Issues at Wittenoom
Nevill & Rogers Report
1993 Australian Mesothelioma Register Report
The incidence of mesothelioma in Australia 1989 to 1991 1994 Seventh Report of the Standing Committee on Constitutional
Affairs and Statutes Revision in relation to a
Petition concerning the town of Wittenoom
1994 CMPS & F - Wittenoom Rehabilitation Study and Risk Assessment
Building Management Authority
1994 Report of the Select Committee appointed to Enquire into Wittenoom.
(Transcripts given in evidence to the above
Parliamentary Library, Parliament House, Perth)
STATE ARCHIVES
AN 120/4, 1003, 14/58 Public Health Department 473/64
AN 21, 21/62 Minister for North West
59/66
35/59
AN 350, 964, 413/43 Department of Mines
789/45
374/46
789/45
320/48
789/45Gaps in list below indicate files not seen as it seems the Department of Minerals and Energy called in four of the files on the "hit list" just hours before my being due to view them in theArchives Not tending to paranoia, I took it as a sign that it was time to go home.
321/43
523/45
352/45
.789/4
37/49
37/50
JOURNALS
1962 Medical Journal of Australia 2, 953-4
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in an Asbestos Worker
J McNulty
1969 British Journal of Industrial Medicine 26, 294-301
A study of the mortality of workers in an asbestos factory ML Newhouse
1969 British Journal of Industrial Medicine 26, 302-7 Validation of death certificates in asbestos workers
ML Newhouse, JC Wagner
1970 Cancer, 26, 914-9
Epidemiology of primary malignant mesothelial tumours in Canada
AD McDonald, A Harper, OA El Attar, JC McDonald
1971 British Journal of Industrial Medicine 28, 59-66 Epidemiology of mesothelioma on Walcheren Island
J Stumphuis
1972 British Journal of Industrial Medicine 29, 134-141 A study of the mortality of female asbestos workers ML Newhouse, G Berry, JC Wagner, ME Turok
1973 South African Medical Journal 47, 165-171
Asbestos and malignancy
I Webster
1973 Cancer, 31, 869-876
Primary malignant mesothelial tumours in Canada 1960-1968
AD McDonald, D Magner, G Eyssen
1973 British Journal of Cancer, 28, 173-185
Mesothelioma in rats after inoculation with asbestos and other materials
JC Wagner, G Berry, V Timbrell
1973 Canadian Medical Association Journal, 109, 359-362 Epidemiologic surveillance of mesothelioma in Canada
1974 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 31, 91-104 Mesothelioma Register 1967-1968
M Greenberg, TA Lloyd Davies
1974 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 31, 105-112 Mortality and morbidity among the working population of anthophyllite asbestos miners in Finland
LO Meurman, R Kiviluoto, R Hakama
1976 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 33, 115-122
32 cases of mesothelioma in Victoria, Australia :
a retrospective survey related to occupational asbestos exposure.
JEH Milne
1976 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 33, 147-151 Prediction of mortality from mesothelioma tumours in asbestos factory workers
ML Newhouse, G Berry
1976 Cancer Research, 36, 2973-2979
Fundamental carcinogenic process and their implications for low dose risk assessment
KS Crump, DG Hoel, CH Langley, R Peto
1977 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 34, 169-173
A mortality study among workers in an English asbestos factory
J Peto, R Doll, SV Howard, LJ Kinlen, HC Lewinson
1977 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 34, 174-180 Insulation workers in Belfast. A further study of mortality due to asbestos exposure (1940-75)
PC Elmes, MJC Simpson
1977 The Lancet, December, 1211-1212
Asbestos
Editor
1978 South Africal Medical Journal, 279-281
Mesothelioma in relation to asbestos fibre exposure
E Cochrane, I Webster
1979 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 36, 187-194 Mortality of chrysotile workers at the Balangero Mine, Northern Itlay.
GF Rubino, G Piolatto, ML Newhouse, G Scansetti,
GA Aresini, R Murray
1981 International Journal of Health Services, 11, 227-245
The social context of occupational disease : Asbestos and South Africa
J Myers
1980 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 37, 11-24
Dust exposure and mortality in chrysotile mining, 1910-75 JC McDonald, FDK Liddell, GW Gibbs, E Eyssen, AD McDonald
1980 Cancer, 46, 1650-1656
Malignant mesothelioma in North America
AD McDonald, JC McDonald
1980 Cancer Research, 40, 3875-3879
Mesothelioma associated with the shipbuilding industry in coastal Virginia.
I Tagnon, WJ Blot, RB Stroube, NE Day, LE Morris,
BB Pearce, JF Fraumeni Jr.
1981 JNCI, 67, 965-975
Relation of particle dimension to carcinogenicity in amphibole and other fibrous minerals.
MF Stanton, M Layard, A Tegarie, E Miller, M May,
E Morgan, A Smith
1982 Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 26, 347-369
Deposition and retention of fibres in the human lung.
V Timbrell
1982 Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 26, 869-887
Estimates of dose-response for respiratory cancer among chrysotile asbestos textile workers.
JM Dement, RL Harris, MJ Symons, C Shy
1982 Cancer, 45, 124-135
Mesothelioma mortality in asbestos workers : Implications for models of carcinogenesis and risk assessment
J Peto, H Seidman, IJ Selikoff
1982 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 39, 369-374
Dust exposure and mortality in an American factory using chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite in mainly textile manufacture.
AD McDonald, JS Fry, AJ Woolley, JC McDonald
1982 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 39, 344-348 Mortality of two groups of women who manufactured gas masks from chrysotile and crocidolite asbestos: a
40 year follow-up.
ED Acheson, MJ Gardner, EC Pippard, LP Grime
1982 Australian New Zealand Journal of Medicine, 12, 229-232 Convential treatment and its effect on survival of malignant pleural mesothelioma in Western Australia
AW Musk, SD Woodward
1983 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 40, 1-7 Mortality of workers manufacturing friction materials using asbestos
G Berry, ML Newhouse
1983 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 40, 145-152 Asbestos-related mesothelioma: factors discriminating between pleural and peritoneal sites.
K Browne, WJ Smither
1983 British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 40, 361-367 Dust exposure and mortality in an American chrysotile textile plant.
AD McDonald, JS Fry, AJ Woolley, J McDonald
1983 The Lancet, July, 112-113
Trends in mortality of diffuse malignant mesothelioma of pleura
VE Archer, WN Rom
1983 American Journal of Public Health, 73, 1054-1062 Sentinel health events (occupational): A basis for physician recognition and public health surveillance DD Rutstein, RJ Mullan, TM Frazier, WE Halperin,
JM Melius, JP Sestito
1984 American Review REspiratory Diseases, 130, 1042-1045 Lung asbestos content in chrysotile workers with mesothelioma.
A Churg, B Wiggs, L Depoli, B Kampe, B Stevens
1984 Medical Journal of Australia, 141, 86-88
Epidemiology of malignant mesothelioma in Western Australia
1984 Canadian Medical Association Journal, 131, 1069-1071
Recent trends in incidence rates of pleural mesothelioma in British Columbia
HI Morrison, PR Band, R Gallagher, J Spinelli, DT Wigle 1985 Britsh Journal of Cancer, 51, 121-126
Mesothelioma of the peritoneum during 1967-82 in England and Wales
MJ Gardner, RD Jones, EC Pippard, N Saitoh
1985 British Journal of Cancer, 51, 699-705
Trend and distribution of mesothelioma in Denmark
M Andersson, JH Olsen
1985 Medical Journal of Australia, 143, 185-187
Trends in mortality from malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, and production and use of asbestos in Australia Zhong Xu, BK Armstrong, BJ Blundson, JM Rogers, AW Musk, KB Shilkin
1985 Cancer, 55, 672-674
Malignant mesothelioma in British Columbia in 1982
A Churg
1986 Cancer, 57, 1905-1911
Mesothelioma and Mineral Fibres
Charles S Mott Prize
JC Wagner
1986 American Journal of Epidemiology, 123, 30-40
Excess mortality from stomach cancer, lung cancer and asbestosis and/or mesothelioma in crocidolite mining districts in South Africa
JL Botha, LM Irwig, PM Strebel
1986 American Review Respiratory Diseases, 133, 5-13
Asbestos exposure - quantitative assessment of risk
JM Hughes, H Weill
1987 JNCI, 79, 31-37
Geographic patterns for pleural mesothelioma deaths in the United States 1968-81
PE Enterline, VL Henderson
1987 International Journal of Health Services, 17, 651-666 Asbestos and asbestos related disease: the South African case
JE Myers, J Aron, IA Macum
1987 Medical Journal of Australia, 147, 166-172
The Australian mesothelioma surveillance program 1979-85 DA Ferguson, G Berry, T Jelihovsky, SB Andreas, AJ Rogers S Chung Fung, A Grimwood, R Thompson
1989 Medical Journal of Australia, 150, 242-246
The incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Australia 1947-1980
1989 Medical Journal of Australia, 151, 616-620
Predictions of future cases of asbestos-related disease among former miners and millers of crocidolite in Western Australia.
NH de Klerk, BK Armstrong, AW Musk, MST Hobbs
1990 Science, 247, 294-301
Asbestos: scientific developments and implications for public policy
BT Mossman, J Bignon, M Corn, A Seaton, JBL Gee
1990 Medical Journal of Australia, 152, 617-618
Low level asbestos - the priorities are wrong
D Ferguson
1991 The Lancet, 338, 50 (letter)
Mesothelioma and non-occupational environmental exposure to asbestos
C Magnani, G Borgo, GP Betta, M Botta, C Ivalvi, F Mollo, M Scelzi, B terracini
1993 International Journal of Cancer, 54, 578-581
Malignant mesothelioma after environmental exposure to blue asbestos
J Hansen, NH de Klerk, JL Eccles, AW Musk, MST Hobbs
*****
(My many thanks to Allen Kelly for doing the legwork in the library on my behalf in locating and copying the above articles. Armed with a list of several hundred, the above were either immediately accessible or fitted within his time frame and my budget. Thus it can be regarded as a semi-random sample of the literature available.)
BOOKS
1948 Minerals of Western Australia (Three Volumes)
Mines Department
1978 Asbestos - Work as a Health Hazard
M Peacock, ABC Science Unit
ABC with Hodder and Stoughton 1979 2000 Cancer Causing Agents
R Winter
Crown Publishers, New York
1986 Asbestos - Its Human Cost Jock McCulloch
University of Queensland Press, St Lucia 1987 Asbestos-Related Malignancy
Edited by K Antman, J Aisner
Grune & Stratton, Inc. Orlando, Florida, USA 1988 The Genetic Jigsaw
R McKie
Oxford University Press
1988 Silent Killers
K Gay
Impact
1991 Managing Occupational Health and Safety in Australia
M Quinlan, P Bohle
Macmillan
1994 Malignant Mesothelioma
ed. DW Henderson, KB Shilkin, D Whitaker, SLP Langlois Hemisphere, New York.
(With great appreciation to Lenore Layman. Her very thorough research enabled me to access documents within the State Archives with great rapidity.)
The Encyclopedia Britannica for details relating to pneumoconiosis.
Copy of tenement records for West Pilara Goldfield.
Note : due to the late finding of a page missing from the batch of microfiche copied, it is possible that the acreages are not as accurate as I would prefer. I am missing information relating to ten applications. These may have been made by persons other than either ABA or Hancock; or by ABA alone; Hancock alone; or between the two or with others. All up the maximum total acreage affected would be 3000 down to less than 300. As this does not affect the Chronology in a substantial manner – and I have a distance to travel to correct it, I will have to let it stand.
Title searches Department of Minerals and Energy and the Department of Lands Administration.
Australian Bureau of Statistics Year Books
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement 1972
Iron Ore (Wittenoom) Agreement Amendment Act 1992
Shire of Ashburton Council Minutes 1990 - 1994
Supreme Court of Western Australia
View of all 1993 and 1994 Writs and related documents.
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My personal view: The Reason This Document was Created
If people want to place themselves in any form of danger, that is their right – as long as they are aware of the danger at a time when they are able to make such a choice.
For instance, tourists and travellers often look to camp for the night about late afternoon. Few really want to deal with kangaroos at dusk or night-time if it can be avoided. At the time of compiling the above, no warning was available until arriving on the very outskirts of the town. The choice was camp for at least one night or move along forty kilometres of gravel road at night.
The ABC came to town to tape a show for the WA “Today Tonight.” A car load of young European backpackers had booked into the caravan park where I was caretaking (and getting to grips with the above.) The lads heard the discussion during their evening meal at the café and later came to me for my side. One of them had been to Wittenoom before and had recommended it to his friends. He and one other asked me what all the fuss was about. One listened as I explained and the other watched my every movement. I told them that were my children to be visiting their country and about to enter an area of potential danger known to locals, I would hope that their mothers would inform them of the risk, advise them of their freedom to choose and wish them well whatever their choice. They drove into the night.
Spent Christmas Day being warned off with scarcely veiled threats of dirt in my fuel tank; accounts that 25% of the population (including my informant) already had cancer, so what the heck – though he himself had cured himself with meditation or marijuana? Also, many chose to live in Wittenoom attracted by the fact there was no police presence in town.
I left.
Does not need the wheels of aircraft to kick up the dust – see below
Any old wind will do.
Now that I am standing still in one location, there is now the opportunity to get my writings sorted and offer them for your enjoyment and/or information.
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