Weipa Town

Last updated

Weipa Town
Queensland
Weipa airport departure lounge.JPG
Departure lounge, Weipa Airport, 2007
Australia Queensland location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Weipa Town
Coordinates 12°37′47″S141°52′41″E / 12.6298°S 141.8781°E / -12.6298; 141.8781
Population4,100 (2021 census) [1]
 • Density373/km2 (970/sq mi)
Established1967
Area11 km2 (4.2 sq mi) [2]
MayorMichael Rowland (chairman)
Council seat Rocky Point
Region Far North Queensland
State electorate(s) Cook
Federal division(s) Leichhardt
Weipa Town Authority Logo.png
Website Weipa Town
LGAs around Weipa Town:
Napranum Cook Napranum
Gulf of Carpentaria Weipa Town Cook
Napranum Aurukun Napranum

Weipa Town is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. It covers the town of Weipa on the western coast of the Cape York Peninsula, including the localities of Rocky Point, Trunding, Nanum, Evans Landing, and Weipa Airport. It is an unusual local government area as it is not governed and managed by a council elected by residents but rather by the company Rio Tinto Aluminium (which operates a bauxite mine in the area) through a governing body called the Weipa Town Authority.

Contents

In the 2021 census, the Weipa Town had a population of 4,100 people. [1]

History

In 1955, New Zealand geologist Harry Evans discovered bauxite (the raw material used to make aluminium) on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula while he was exploring for oil. Further surveys established it was the largest bauxite deposit in the world. [3]

In November 1957, the Queensland Government approved a £50 million project of the British Australian Consolidated Zinc group to develop a bauxite mine on the Cape York Peninsula to be operated by its newly created subsidiary, Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty. Limited (from 1960 known as Comalco). As part of the agreement, the government passed legislation to enable a town, harbour and treatment works to be established at the company's expense at Kumrunja (Rocky Point) on the south side of the Mission River. Under the Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty. Limited Agreement Act (1957) the area for the town was excised from Shire of Cook and Comalco became the manager of the new town. [4] [5]

In 1964, the first housing was constructed in the new township of Weipa at Rocky Point. [5] In 1967 the Township of Weipa was officially opened by the Queensland Premier Frank Nicklin. [6]

In 1993, Comalco held elections to form a Citizens Advisory Committee to assist in the administration of the town. In 1997 the committee evolved into the present Weipa Town Authority. [5] [7]

Demographics

Weipa Town was included in the Shire of Cook for census purposes until its first census reporting in 2006.

In the 2006 census, the Weipa Town had a population of 2,830 people. [8]

In the 2011 census, the Weipa Town had a population of 3,334 people. [9]

In the 2016 census, the Weipa Town had a population of 3,905 people. [10]

In the 2021 census, the Weipa Town had a population of 4,100 people. [1]

Towns and localities

Unlike most local government areas in Queensland, Weipa Town consists of two disconnected areas. The first covers the town of Weipa ( 12°37′47″S141°52′41″E / 12.6298°S 141.8781°E / -12.6298; 141.8781 (Weipa Town (residential area)) ) with a narrow connecting road to the harbour area ( 12°39′45″S141°51′03″E / 12.6625°S 141.8507°E / -12.6625; 141.8507 (Weipa Town (harbour area)) ). The second area ( 12°40′53″S141°55′30″E / 12.6814°S 141.9250°E / -12.6814; 141.9250 (Weipa Town (airport area)) ) covers the Weipa Airport. Having been excised from Shire of Cook, Weipa Town is still surrounded by the Shire. However, the Napranum Aboriginal Shire (formerly known as the town of Weipa South) and Shire of Aurukun (also excised from Shire of Cook) are very close by and, although also split in a number of disconnected areas are effectively neighbouring local government areas. [11]

Weipa is the only town in this local government area. The residential area of Weipa comprises three localities; from north to south, they are Rocky Point, Trunding, and Nanum. The harbour area is within the locality of Evans Landing. The airport area is the locality of Weipa Airport.

Weipa Town Authority

While Rio Tinto (formerly Comalco) remains responsible for the administration of the town, it discharges this obligation through the Weipa Town Authority. The Authority has seven members: four elected by the residents, two appointed by Rio Tinto, and one appointed by the Alngith indigenous people. Weipa Town is a gazetted local government area and the Weipa Town Authority undertakes the duties of a typical local government, such as: [12]

Services provided by the authority include road maintenance, water supply, garbage collection, parks, sports ovals, and public swimming pools. [12] The authority provides the Hibberd Library in Hibberd Drive, Rocky Point. [13]

However, the Weipa Town Authority is not a true local government authority as defined in the Local Government Act (2009) because it is part of a corporation. This has implications in relation to loan and budget requirements, Goods and Services Tax on rates, the development of land, and changes to the town boundaries. [12]

Unlike other local governments in Queensland, the Weipa Town Authority has a chairman rather than a mayor. In 2017, the chairman is Michael Rowland. [5]

In 2016, discussions took place in regard to "normalising" Weipa Town into a true local government authority . The three options under discussion were to make Weipa Town a normal local government authority with its present boundaries, to absorb Weipa Town back into the Shire of Cook, or to create a new Western Cape Region centred on Weipa. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weipa</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Weipa is a coastal mining town in the local government area of Weipa Town in Queensland. It is one of the largest towns on the Cape York Peninsula. It exists because of the enormous bauxite deposits along the coast. The Port of Weipa is mainly involved in exports of bauxite. There are also shipments of live cattle from the port.

Rio Tinto Aluminium is now known as Rio Tinto Alcan after Rio's takeover of Alcan. It was the world's eighth largest aluminium company. It mines and manufactures bauxite, alumina and primary aluminium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Aurukun</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Aurukun is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. The shire covers part of western Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far North Queensland</span> Region in Queensland, Australia

Far North Queensland (FNQ) is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. Its largest city is Cairns and it is dominated geographically by Cape York Peninsula, which stretches north to the Torres Strait, and west to the Gulf Country. The waters of Torres Strait include the only international border in the area contiguous with the Australian mainland, between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mapoon, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Mapoon is a coastal town in the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon and a locality split between the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon and the Shire of Cook in Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the locality of Mapoon had a population of 469 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Napranum, Queensland</span> Town in Queensland, Australia

Napranum is a remote town in the locality of Mission River in the Aboriginal Shire of Napranum, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, the town of Napranum had a population of 716 Indigenous Australians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Douglas</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Douglas is a local government area in Far North Queensland. It is located on the coast north of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mossman, covers an area of 2,428 square kilometres (937.5 sq mi), and existed as a local government entity from 1880 until 2008, when it was amalgamated with the City of Cairns to become the Cairns Region. Following a poll in 2013, the Shire of Douglas was re-established on 1 January 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Carpentaria</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Carpentaria is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia on the Gulf of Carpentaria, for which it is named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shire of Cook</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Shire of Cook is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Shire covers most of the eastern and central parts of Cape York Peninsula, the most northerly section of the Australian mainland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama is a special local government area which is located on western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. It is managed under a Deed of Grant in Trust under the Local Government Act 2004.

Henry James Evans was the leading exploration geologist and discoverer of the immense bauxite deposits near Weipa, on the west coast of Cape York Peninsula in northern Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Shire of Pormpuraaw</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Aboriginal Shire of Pormpuraaw is a special local government area which is located on western Cape York Peninsula in Queensland, Australia. It is managed under a Deed of Grant in Trust under the Local Government Act 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bauxite mining in Australia</span> Extraction of Bauxite in Australia

Bauxite mining in Australia is an economically significant industry both for Australia and globally. The industry focuses on the mining of bauxite, the primary raw material for alumina and aluminium. Australia is the world's largest bauxite producer, producing almost a third of global bauxite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nanum, Queensland</span> Suburb of Weipa, Queensland, Australia

Nanum is a coastal residential locality in Weipa Town, Far North Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Nanum had a population of 904 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is managed as a Deed of Grant in Trust under the Local Government Act 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Shire of Lockhart River</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Aboriginal Shire of Lockhart River is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula on the Gulf of Carpentaria. In the 2021 census, the Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon had a population of 432 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aboriginal Shire of Napranum</span> Local government area in Queensland, Australia

The Aboriginal Shire of Napranum is a local government area in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is on the western side of the Cape York Peninsula around Weipa.

Mission River is a coastal rural locality split between the Shire of Cook and the Aboriginal Shire of Napranum in Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Mission River had a population of 974 people.

Rocky Point is a residential locality in the Weipa Town, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Rocky Point had a population of 2,214 people.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Weipa Town (LGA)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  2. ↑ "3218.0 – Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2017-18: Population Estimates by Local Government Area (ASGS 2018), 2017 to 2018". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019. Estimated resident population, 30 June 2018.
  3. ↑ "AUSTRALIA FROM THE AIR". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 26, no. 44. Australia. 8 April 1959. p. 30. Retrieved 21 January 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "£50 MILLION BAUXITE PROJECT". The Cumberland Argus . No. 3908. New South Wales, Australia. 13 November 1957. p. 7. Retrieved 21 January 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Western Cape History". Weipa Town Authority. 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "Weipa $29m bauxite project opened". The Canberra Times . Vol. 41, no. 11, 705. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 June 1967. p. 17. Retrieved 21 January 2017– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Administering our town". Weipa Town Authority. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  8. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Weipa Town (LGA)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  9. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Weipa Town (LGA)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 June 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  10. ↑ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Weipa Town (LGA)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. ↑ "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 "Meet the Board". Weipa Town Authority. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  13. ↑ "Hibberd Library". Public Libraries Connect. State Library of Queensland. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
  14. ↑ Geiger, Dominic (13 September 2016). "Leaders in talks over Western Cape town's future". The Cairns Post . Retrieved 22 January 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.