Asbestos found on eastern blocks
An extended inspection has found a concerning level of asbestos contamination in Kalgoorlie- Boulder's eastern suburbs.
The _Kalgoorlie _ _Miner _ can confirm five blocks of land in the Williamstown area have been found to have reportable levels of contamination by the dangerous material.
The _ Miner _understands one of these blocks is owned by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines and is located on 38 Austral Road.
The other four sites are areas of crown land.
The _Miner _also understands a further 14 blocks in the area were found to contain sparse levels of the material.
The long-running issue of asbestos in Williamstown was highlighted last month after reports children had been seen playing with the material.
In February, KCGM commissioned and completed an asbestos review of its 11 blocks in Williamstown, as well as eight other crown land blocks in the area.
In a statement yesterday, acting general manager Ian Butler said KCGM undertook the review as the holder of the underlying mining tenement and as part of its commitment to the local community.
Mr Butler said the findings of that review had now been sent to the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and formally reported to the Department of Environment Regulation.
He said KCGM was now working with an environmental consultant regarding an action plan to address the suspected asbestos on the KCGM-managed freehold blocks.
Mr Butler also said KCGM had received legal advice that it was under no statutory obligation to work on the crown land blocks.
City director of development services Alex Wiese said the City informed the State Government of the contamination yesterday, and was awaiting a response.
"From a City perspective as the contamination is on crown land what we will be doing is referring the complaints and report to the Department of Environment," he said.
Neither the City nor KCGM provided information on when or if areas in Williamstown would be fenced or signposted in response to the asbestos levels.
What we will be doing is referring the complaints and report to the Department of Environment.
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Alex Wiese *
