Indigenous Community Brings Asbestos Contamination Battle to the United Nations
According to a group, deadly contamination from blue asbestos mining in Wittenoom, WA has spread beyond a 46,000 hectare management zone.
The isolated town of Wittenoom in Western Australia has brought its case to the U.N. Human Rights Council as Aboriginal traditional owners push for asbestos contamination clearance.
Located in the Pilbara region, Wittenoom is covered in crocidolite, the most lethal type of asbestos, despite mining operations ending 60 years ago.
Banjima elder Tim Parker claims that asbestos fibres have spread beyond the designated Wittenoom Asbestos Management Area (WAMA), making it the largest contaminated area in the Southern Hemisphere.
The CEO of the Asbestos Diseases Society, Melita Markey, stated that air monitoring has shown dangerous levels of asbestos in the air around Wittenoom, urging the state government to take action.
In a petition presented to the state parliament in 2021, the Banjima people requested identification of responsibility and cleanup costs related to the 3 million tonnes of mining waste piled at least 40 meters high.
Despite multiple inquiries and reports, Wittenoom remains polluted, with an estimated cleanup cost of over $150 million.
The WA Parliament passed the Wittenoom Closure Bill in 2022, granting the authority to demolish the remaining buildings, expel residents, and prevent tourist visits to the town.
Local officials warn of asbestos spreading onto roads, posing risks to tourists, miners, and the public.
The deadly mineral was extracted from the area from the 1930s to 1966, with mining operations conducted by various companies, including Hancock Prospecting and Colonial Sugar Refinery Company (CSR).
More than 2,000 deaths have been attributed to working at the mine, with ongoing concerns about health risks to residents and visitors.
Speaking to the Human Rights Council, a Banjima representative highlighted the constant fear among families due to asbestos-related illnesses from Wittenoom.
Reports suggest that unstabilized tailings could spread for hundreds of years, posing risks to the environment and public health.
There are fears that mining could resume in the area, potentially impacting sacred Aboriginal sites and the local ecosystem.
