The Whens of Wittenoom, page 8
# 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.
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# 1990 - January
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.
