ELDER CONCERNED WITTENOOM ASBESTOS CONTAMINATION MAY SPREAD

Banjima Maitland Parker has concerns about the clean-up of asbestos in Wittenoom.

Banjima Elder Maitland Parker is concerned toxic asbestos from Ngambigunha/Wittenoom Gorge could contaminate Millstream in Yindjibarndi Country.

‘Since Wittenoom started the blue asbestos mining in Ngambigunha Gorge, the waste material has been blown and washed in every which direction,” he said.

“The water has been washing it downstream, past Wittenoom town and into the Fortescue valley. My concern is how far it has gone towards the Millstream, the tailings that have been washed and washed and washed. Now, it’s not only going to be our Country contaminated. It’s also going to now get into the water streams and into Yindjibarndi people’s Country.”

Mr Parker says he’s also concerned that mining tenements have been granted around Wittenoom.

“Where these tenements have been granted, if they’re ever given the green light, they’re going to have these asbestos issues again,” said Mr Parker.

Two weeks ago, Mr Parker met with John Carey, Minister for Lands, to discuss the clean-up of the asbestos contamination at Ngambigunha Gorge. Mr Parker said he was frustrated because his questions were not answered.

In a statement, Minister Carey told Ngaarda Media that the State Government continues to engage with Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation and plans to restart the Wittenoom Steering Committee by the end of the year.

Mr Parker said the Banjima people had been invited to be part of the Steering Committee.

The WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation says asbestos contamination has travelled downstream from Wittenoom, but not as far as Millstream.

“Some waterborne migration of asbestos tailings from the Wittenoom mines is known to have occurred down Joffre Creek as far as the Fortescue River,” according to a Department spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the Department has no records showing substantial migration of asbestos as far as Millstream.

They said some asbestos contamination was found around Millstream in 2017. It came from an old hessian bag of Wittenoom asbestos product that had fallen from a semi-trailer.

A Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety spokesman said all companies applying for mining tenements in the asbestos-affected area were subject to conditions. 

“All activities on a granted tenement must be carried out in a manner that prevents or minimises potential asbestos contamination and human exposure,” they said.