The West Australian government is refusing to say when the final resident of asbestos-covered Wittenoom will be forced out of her home of 40 years.
Lorraine Thomas, 80, was ordered to leave the Pilbara town on August 31, but missed the deadline because of personal circumstances, according to her family.
The state government told her to leave after it closed the town and acquired the remaining properties under the Wittenoom Closure Act earlier this year, and planned to demolish and bury all structures.
Documents seen by the ABC reveal police and court officers intend to travel to the town to evict anyone who remains, but the government has refused to say when this will happen.
The land in and around Wittenoom is littered with asbestos that includes millions of tonnes of tailings left by the mining industry, making it the largest contaminated site in the southern hemisphere.
Family waiting for authorities
Lorraine's daughter Aileen Thomas said her mother was still in the town, but the family had not been contacted by the government about the potential eviction since the deadline was missed.
"Mum's very concerned and so am I," she said.
"Because I think it's very unnecessary and very inappropriate that they would even think of doing that, when we have stated very clearly that she's leaving."
The government will compensate Wittenoom's final property owners with more than $300,000 each.
Ms Thomas said her mother wanted to leave Wittenoom and said the family aimed to move her to Port Hedland by the end of September.
"The money would not make any difference. It's not money, it's time we need," she said.
"We can be finished before that, at the very least by the end of September everything can be done and they can have the property and do whatever they want with it after that."
Government likely to give notice
A Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said it would continue to engage with the Thomas family as they organised the move.
Karratha lawyer Adam Oswald said authorities would require a warrant to evict Lorraine Thomas, which could not be appealed or delayed by the family.
He questioned the urgency of the government's actions and said the department would probably "tread softly", and give the family notice before removing her.
"They'll probably give her notice that they're coming as opposed to an early-morning police raid," he said.
"It's an elderly person, 80 years of age who has lived there her whole life. She's not going to pack up in an instant, so I think they'll be treading softly but firmly to move her out."
When the Wittenoom Closure Act passed parliament, Lands Minister John Carey said it was vital to ensure the town was demolished to stop people from visiting the contaminated area.
