The town of Wittenoom, WA, is infamous for its deadly levels of asbestos. More than 2,000 former works and family members of Wittenoom have contracted an asbestos-related disease, and unfortunately, since there is no cure for many of these diseases, many have died. This death toll continues to rise, despite the efforts of various councils and organisations to raise awareness.

The state government withdrew Wittenoom’s town status in 2007 due to the dangers that asbestos posed to the citizens. Whilst most of the citizens were willing to relocate to a safer area, there are still residents who have chosen to remain in this deadly town. The government has reconvened the Wittenoom Closure Steering Committee in an attempt to drive the remaining citizens out of Wittenoom.

Paul Rosair, Director General of the Department of Regional Development and Lands in WA, believes there are five permanent citizens currently residing in Wittenoom. There are also Indigenous communities and tourists.

Currently the Western Australian government has no power to forcefully remove citizens from their freehold land. Mr Rosair has suggested that offering compensation packages may make the idea seem more appealing, however the citizens thus far have refused any offers. The government could start looking into the enactment of legislation that enables them to remove citizens from their lands. Until the town is completely free of inhabitants, work regarding the removal and destruction of asbestos cannot commence.

The recent death of Ernie Bridge, WA Labor MP, serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers that asbestos poses. It is believed that Bridge contracted the asbestos-related disease in his visits to the town for business matters. Such diseases do not simply affect people who come into direct contact with asbestos fibres; the thin particles can be carried home and affect the wives, children and family members of those who have been exposed to asbestos.

In Australia mesothelioma compensation (or asbestos compensation in Australia, or asbestosis compensation in Australia) is available to those who unfortunately do contract mesothelioma. Mesothelioma compensation, asbestos compensation and asbestosis compensation are claims brought about by people who have worked with asbestos and who suffer from mesothelioma and other asbestos conditions

Three weeks after a tornado ripped through the Denison Country Caravan Park in New South Wales, it still remains closed to the public due to asbestos contaminating the site. Representatives from the NSW Government will now start to look at how much it is going to cost to clean up the damage.

This asbestos inspection by New South Wales government representatives has been welcomed by Fred Longmire, the Corowa Council Major who has spoken out about his frustration as to how slow the government has taken to respond to the situation. The asbestos is present where there is damage in the park thus it is these areas that pose a risk to people’s health.

Asbestos can create a health risk for people who are exposed to it. Following exposure to asbestos, a person may well contract an asbestos condition such mesothelioma or asbestos related pleural disease.

These health risks are the reason the Environmental Protection Agency has placed restrictions on the park to remain closed. This is a precaution to ensure nobody is exposed to asbestos, thus reducing the risk of people contracting asbestos related illnesses. These kinds of actions are extremely important in these situations as Australia has one of the highest rates of asbestos related diseases in the world.

Concerns were raised to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland regarding asbestos in Toowoomba following the suggestion that a company was dealing with this life-threatening substance in a careless and illegal manner.

Queensland Workplace Health and Safety are not concerned with accountability at this point in time. Rather, they would like to concentrate their energies on alerting affected persons of the asbestos risk. It is important that everyone in the vicinity recognise asbestos is a dangerous and life-threatening substance.

Once asbestos is disturbed, it releases fine asbestos particles in the air. Once these particles are inhaled, they can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Unfortunately, there have been many cases of mesothelioma in Queensland and asbestosis in Queensland. Asbestos was widely used in Queensland over decades. Queensland now has to cope with many persons suffering asbestos conditions.

As a result of the many people suffering asbestos conditions in Queensland, the Queensland Government implemented legislation a number of years ago to assist those suffering asbestos conditions in Queensland make a claim for asbestos compensation in Queensland.

Illegally dumped asbestos has been discovered among a large amount of dumped building materials on Badgerys Creek Road in Sydney, NSW. Liverpool councilor Peter Harle has confirmed that dumping is a major problem for the council which sees them spend more then $200,000 a year on cleaning up the mess.

While the council and community both work hard to catch these dumpers, the task becomes difficult in areas like Badgerys Creek which are somewhat isolated from the community. In remote areas like these, the chances of dumping and not being caught are high. When these offenders have been caught, Council has imposed fine of more then $100,000 however they lack the resources to catch everyone responsible.
The major concern is that if the asbestos fibres dry and are then disturbed, they often become airborne and then pose a health risk to any person who inhales them. Exposure to asbestos can lead to people contracting asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis, asbestos related pleural effusion or mesothelioma.

With these asbestos fears in mind, this Sydney Council needs to ensure they remove any asbestos in the area as soon as possible to try and reduce the risk of those members of this New South Wales community being exposed to asbestos.

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