아래는 호주 ABC 뉴스 2월 4일자 기사입니다.
여행 블로거가 4살된 딸과 함께 폐쇄된 위트눔(Wittenoom) 지역을 방문하여 논란 중이다. 그 지역은 지도에서 찾아볼 수 없는데 수십년간 석면 채굴로 지역이 오염되었기 때문이다.
위트눔은 퍼스(Perth)에서 북쪽으로 1,600km 떨어졌는데 호주에서 가장 큰 산업적 재해로 유명한 곳이다. 마을은 석면 채굴로 형성되었는데 4,000명의 사망자과 연관되어 있다.
WA 정부는 위트눔을 폐쇄하고 대다수의 건물을 철거하였다.
4살된 딸과 방문은 석면질병 홍보자로 부터 심한 비난을 받고 있다.
이러한 논란에도 불구하고 WA 정부는 제한 지역을 방문하는 어떠한 행동에 대한 제제를 가하는 등의 계획은 없다고 한다.
(참고로 위트눔 지역은 독성이 가장 높은 청석면을 채굴하였습니다)
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Authorities say they have no plans to increase security or patrols around one of Western Australia's most heavily contaminated landscapes, despite a popular travel video blogger showing just how easy it is to access.
Wittenoom, 1,600 kilometres north of Perth, was home to Australia's biggest industrial disaster, with the former town's asbestos mines linked to an estimated 4,000 deaths.
The town was closed and buildings demolished by the WA government due to the risks.
But Queensland mum Ronelle Fotinis said she was drawn to visiting the former town as part of her fascination with places "out of the norm".
Her curiosity led her to Wittenoom late last year, filming and posting videos to social media and her YouTube channel Adventure Life Oz.
But her decision to bring her four-year-old daughter to her visit has been heavily criticised by asbestos disease advocates.
Asbestos Disease Society of Australia chief executive Melita Markey says you cannot take back an asbestos exposure.
"It's devastating, as a parent, as a mother," Ms Markey said of the visit.
"I think it just comes down to people making that choice of risk. People are attracted to risk. But where I feel that it's wrong is that they are putting their attitude to risk onto their children.
Ms Markey said people did not need to be in the town long to inhale deadly crocidolite fibres that were invisible to the naked eye.
While the asbestos mine was closed in 1966, the town continued to operate for decades, with the school open until 1985 and the Wittenoom races held until 1991.
Jockeys who attended the circuit fewer than five times have since succumbed to asbestos-related diseases, with Wittenoom their only known contamination.
Despite the serious risks posed by visiting the site, a small but steady stream of travellers continues to dice with both a physical and financial penalty.
But the WA government does not plan to take any further action to restrict access.
In a statement, the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage said access remained prohibited, and could incur a $500 fine.
"It is critical that anyone in the area complies with warning signs and road bunding that is in place for their own health and safety," a spokesperson said.
But the curiosity remains, with videos such as Ms Fontinis's attracting a considerable online audience.
"[That] you'd still have buildings and play equipment, I don't know that's how I envisaged it — they've just taken everything and what's left is a few roads that nature is taking back."
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Travel blogger called out for visit to asbestos-ridden former Wittenoom town site with young daughter
