Australias valley of death, Wittenoom. 10/23/2009
 A beautiful part of Australia that I choose to avoid In the heart of the magnificent Pilbara, is the infamous blue asbestos mining town of. Wittenoom, the home of Australia’s greatest industrial disaster. It was once the main entrance to the beautiful Hamersley rangers and tourists camped in the now contaminated with asbestos dust, Wittenoom Gorge or Yampire Gorge. Blue asbestos mining and milling at Wittenoom has had a significant impact on all Australians. Western Australia in particular has the highest rate of malignant mesothelioma than any State in Australia or elsewhere in the world per capita of population. Wittenoon is located in very picturesque bushland and absolutely breathtaking and stunning landscape. I could not enjoy viewing such scenery in the knowledge of the former workers and their families who contracted asbestos related conditions such as mesothelioma and the still present danger of the blue asbestos, the most dangerous form of asbestos, having been disturbed, and brought to the surface in the area. I am stunned that 50 people choose to still live there and some people are comfortable visiting the area, I guess that's freedom of choice but I wonder that the area was not simple closed off. It’s hard to stand on a ridge top overlooking this beautiful region and realize that of the 20 000 mostly young men, women and their children who lived and worked in Wittenoom during the mining boom, over 1000 (and the figure is still rising) have died from the asbestos-related diseases of asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. It is now estimated that over 25 per cent of all the men who worked in the mines will die of asbestos-related diseases. There are advisory signs around the town 'Danger', , 'stay on the road, keep the windows closed if it is windy, only spend one day in the area, don’t allow children to play amongst the tailings and don’t take home samples of the blue asbestos and camp in delegated areas.' I hear conflicting stories, when I am in the Pilbara region, there are the official warnings that blue asbestos fibers’ are still airborne around the town and sometimes are visible to the naked eye. I also hear some locals scoff and say they do not believe that any danger ever existed from the asbestos. Wittenoom is officially recognized as being a valley of death. The signs around the town call attention to the problem: DANGER - Asbestos Tailings Risk Area. Inhaling Asbestos Fibres May Cause Cancer the town is a virtual ghost town. Shops are boarded up. The two schools are closed. The local cinema is derelict. In their ignorance, the original settlers used asbestos tailings to break the monotony of the Pilbara¹s harsh red soils. Hence asbestos was used in gardens, in the school yards, on the roads and at the race track. Asbestos tailings were even used to build the airport. In recent times the local shire council and residents, aware of the potential problems of airborne asbestos, have attempted to rectify the situation. Car parks have been scraped and resealed, roads have been resealed and yards have been covered with clean fill. Health Department of Western Australia clearly advocate the avoidance of the Wittenoom area. They consider airborne blue asbestos fibres in and around Wittenoom to be a clear risk to residents and to people working in the area. Although the threat to short-term visitors is much lower, it is considered a risk nonetheless and one they recommend avoiding. Their advice to those who do visit the area is: There is a lot to see and do in the Pilbara without going near Wittenoon. I love to visit Marble Bar, and you could hardly find a prettier town than Tom Price, if you want to stay near amenities. If you travel without pets, then bush camping in the Karijini National Park would be my choice and Reg and I love to free bush camp at the many locations overlooking gorges, adjacent to the Karijini National park, just as beautiful as within the park, but places where we can have our dog. You do not need to go into the valley of death to enjoy the Pilbara. I wonder that there has never been a monument of any significance built where travelers could stop and reflect at the young lives ruined by this sad part of Australia’s history. A book was written about Wittenoon called “Blue Murder” by Ben Hills. Well worth reading. Images of Australia in the Paintings and Writing of Artist Author Kathy Shell Artist – Kathryn Shell Author Kathryn Shell is a published non-fiction and fiction author currently working on an Australian Novel. Feel welcome to reproduce the words in the above blog post provided you copy it in its entirety including this section with all its active links. The images may not be copied without permission of the artist, author. You can purchase prints from the art of Kathy Shell by selecting from those offered in the sidebars of her web blogs then Contact Kathy with your selection and these will be listed as a buy it now bundle in this EBay Store. You are most welcome to link to this page.Thank you. - Kathy Shell. Comments01/05/2011 09:04
When researching recent history I am amazed that you find Karijini so pleasant, and yet all finding show that the majority of winds that blow from the tailing site in the gorge, blow over Karijini National park (2 km from tailings) and not the other way towards Wittenoom town site (10 km from tailings). During the mining era one does not dispute the dangers to workers, but the facts now show that high risk has gone. Look deeper and you will see that mining companies and Governments are establishing mining camps and a future railway through this area once they get the last remaining residents out (without paying high compensation for land). Check the facts, the real facts - the scare tactics now are about reclaiming land for mining, not about your or my safety in visiting a beautiful part of the Pilbara, that Governments should be cleaning up. 01/05/2011 09:39
Thank you for your comment. Yes I am aware there is asbestos dust in the gorges of Karijini I don't actually go into Karijini as I have a dog and it is national park I stay on a ridge top with Gorge Views that is a little less well know and very private, free bush camping, just the best. Comments are closed. |  Images of Australia in the Paintings and Writing of Artist Author Kathy Shell are created on location while touring in an Eco-Tourer Caravan. `````````````````````````
If you would like Kathy to review, write or paint, your location, please contact the artist author with your offer. National Parks Passes Art and art print sales are available from
|
RSS Feed
