The town of Wittenoom in Western Australia, is being wiped off the map, literally.
The Western Australian Government has de-gazetted the town, it will no longer be shown on maps, and roads leading to the area can be permanently closed.
The former Pilbara mining town, is heavily contaminated with asbestos, and there is an extreme risk of exposure to the remaining residents, as well as to visitors, and aborigines who continue to hunt in the area. Nevertheless some residents are refusing to leave, even though the town no longer exists officially. They have resisted all efforts by the government to get them to move out, including offers to buy their homes and relocation inducements. Electricity to the area was cut off in 2005.
Mining for blue asbestos began in 1937 and the material was used extensively in local buildings.
For more information, follow the link below:
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21937952-911,00.html
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