Anxious Pilbara Communities ‘Weak Link’
THE arrival of thousands of people on cruise ships in Fremantle has left remote communities in WA anxious over the movement of potentially infected FIFO workers in the Pilbara.
Social media sites, local radio and TV and conversations at shopping centres, service stations and pharmacies are dominated by questions over how to best contain the coronavirus before it spread to the North-West.
On March 16, Channel Nine’s A Current Affair ‘exposed’ Karratha as the coronavirus gateway of WA’s north, raising serious concerns and public criticism over the lack of testing among Chinese workers arriving on iron ore bulk carriers. The same day, as reported by StreetWise, the City of Karratha resolved to discuss boosting doctor numbers with the Government, Cr Margaret Bertling the only councillor to have urged council to pursue discussions with health authorities regarding the threat, in particular to attract, “a couple of doctors so we are not overwhelmed by the crisis. It would be remiss of us not to actually raise that issue”. Those discussions should include local industries and employers of FIFO workers at ports and mines in the Karratha region.
FIFO fears
Highlighting the potential risk of big numbers of workers flying in and out of remotes towns and communities, Newman resident Angela Wilmot posted yesterday: “Perhaps the ‘boost to the economy” of the extra cruise ships to Australia wasn’t such a great idea. Relevance for Newman? Last few days are said to have seen potentially a couple thousand extra FIFO through our Newman town for mining activity. Will this have economic benefit or will we see this being similar to a cruise ship docking in Newman?”
Posting a shot of FIFO workers at the airport, she said: “It doesn’t appear social distancing was being practised off site. Some say the FIFO went shopping before heading home. The Newman airport is owned by our Shire. Has our council convened with other Pilbara councils? Just how seriously is this being taken? How informed is each individual councillor across the Pilbara? I hope our shire is a lead agent overseeing every aspect of our shires response and preparedness to this virus.”
On March 3, as Australia confirmed eight more cases to bring the total to 38, StreetWise sent the City of Karratha questions over its preparedness and responsibility for council-owned facilities and properties, which includes the airport.
It replied: “The public health response to COVID-19 is being coordinated by the Department of Health. The City is taking advice from them.”
It wasn’t until March 17, when Australia confirmed 299 confirmed cases and WA 52, that its first post appeared: “There is considerable concern and public commentary at the moment regarding the spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19.” Surprisingly, in his weekly column in The Pilbara News on March 18, the Mayor Peter Long made no mention of the virus and how the City was addressing local communities’ desire for information and more action.
The weakest link
Many here say the mining industry workforce, “will be our weak link”.
“If this was a category 5 cyclone we would talk of preparedness not panic. In our town it seems like complacency,” Ms Wilmot says in another post to Newman Community Forum. “Can our shire purchase extra test kits? Can we petition the health minister for these? Being remote the early heads up would be great to narrow the gap in health services. One town in Italy tested its whole town because they felt Italy had overlooked them. That gave the town 89 positive results of people not yet showing symptoms. That meant they could immediately find suitable quarantine and reduce spread. Two weeks later they retested and repeated. Newman could be cutting edge and do this too. BHP is extremely keen for Newman to stay healthy so their mine can operate, let’s use that major wealth resource. But I see no creativity only complacency. It’s up to us as residents to demand creativity and proactivity and evidence of both.”
Pilbara Disability Advocacy officer Sandra Collard posted: “We cannot afford to operate complacently as we have always done so. I am receiving 10 or more phone calls from the Aboriginal people asking if the white man is telling the truth. Are roads open, are communities closing, can we go to funerals, can we get our money from Western Desert Lands Aboriginal Corporation for food before its all gone, how can we get our medicine and many other questions.”
Information about the virus and how you can avoid infection at www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert.
