Documents obtained via freedom of information show that Hancock Prospecting is considering mining for iron ore near the asbestos-contaminated site of Wittenoom in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
The plans for exploration and mining at the site were written in 2008, and were recently obtained by a research company on behalf of traditional landholders of the area, Banjima.
The release of the documents has put the focus back on the cleanup of the former asbestos mine site and who should be paying for the contamination.
One Banjima elder who spoke to ABC News explained that the community wanted to see the land rehabilitated and was opposed to future mining at the site.
Banjima elder Maitland Parker, who has mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, described the situation as “an absolute shambles at the moment… what the state government is doing. It’s not fair.”
The plans relate to a site south of the former town of Wittenoom and north of Karijini National Park and are asbestos management plans, which seek to identify and mitigate asbestos-related risk for workers undertaking drilling, construction and driving.
Any mining undertakings at the site require further approvals but traditional owners say that despite communication between the Western Australian Government and Hancock, they have not been consulted.
“They’ve been stalling and stalling the clean up of Wittenoom,” Mr Parker said. “It just makes your blood run hot. No one is actually willing and able to sit down, talk and explain everything.”
“My concern is for my people, especially the younger generation, if they contract it, then it puts a spanner in the works for the health of the people and the health of our country.”
The proposed drilling site is home to significant Aboriginal sites, Mr Parker explained. “There’s engravings, there’s paintings in there, caves where people have camped,” he said. “All that area is highly significant to us.”