Community reminded of Woodsreef Mine risks

The community is being reminded to stay away from the abandoned Woodsreef Asbestos Mine site near Barraba due to the risk from asbestos fibres.

Hunter New England Health Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim said the mine is not safe for sightseeing or other recreational activities

He said demolition will commence early next year to remediate the site and this may increase the risk.

“When these works are undertaken it is especially important for people not to access the site as the risk of exposure to asbestos fibres could be increased on and directly next to the site,” Dr Durrheim said.

Previous environmental air quality monitoring has shown there is a very low risk of inhaling airborne asbestos fibres for people living close to the mine, however coming in close contact with asbestos fibres at the mine site itself is dangerous.

Further monitoring is being undertaken to confirm previous findings.

“While the demolition work is underway, there should be no increased risk to people living near the site however people illegally trespassing on the site are exposing themselves to a high risk,” Dr Durrheim said.

“Asbestos fibres are a health risk if they are inhaled with a confirmed link between asbestos and various life threatening cancers,” he said.

Demolition work on the site will remove the derelict buildings that have posed a risk for serious injury and previously attracted people onto the site for sightseeing.

“We ask that people take the warning signs seriously and do not enter the site. We would also ask parents to ensure their children avoid the site,” Dr Durrheim said.

Contact: Sharna McCarthy

Phone: 4921 4501