Part 7

Weipa. What an amazing place! Rio-Tinto owned and managed, with green grass and picture-perfect sunsets over blue gulf water, it certainly doesn’t get much better. 

Being on the road for quite a few days, it was time to restock everything – food, fuel and restore some clothes with washing. The first day was taken up with - 1. Boys – fishing. 2. Girls, domestic stuff, plus a walk and internet bits and pieces (before the system went down). 

Day two started early with a bus tour around the town and mines. A three-and- half hours trip went by very quickly as our driver, Hardus (think either South African or Dutch), informed and entertained us. So much information, it is hard to retain much of it. Suffice to say it was extremely well worth the CASH we had to pay.
The mineral mined here is Bauxite which is transported by boat overseas and other parts of Australia. The channel the boats must come through is shaped like a tennis racquet. They cannot turn the boats, therefore have to come in one way, load and go out another way.  The channel is only 13 metres deep on high tide mark. It was made this particular height, with dredge, due to Torres Strait being 13 metres at its lowest point. The boats must navigate this Strait as well on their trips out of here. The boat size is classified ‘Post Panama’ due to the size of boats which can navigate the Panama Canal.

The Bauxite is the world’s largest supply and according to our guide, they have only touched 9% of the resource so far. It is estimated it would take another 500 years to remove all the mineral on current predictions. 

Bauxite is the mineral to produce Aluminium. It is very simple to mine with no pits or explosives required. You simply run your loader over the top to remove the product. This in turn is loaded into either truck or train, and transported to the hopper to be unloaded onto a conveyer belt. The conveyer belt continues on its way until the processing plant. Only high-pressure water is required for processing, along with a few good shaking machines and the end product is then ready for export. No chemicals required for bauxite, just good old water. 

The main workers in the driving department are female, due to their driving skills. Not as harsh on machinery (taking things quieter, not rush and tear) and also more aware of machines needing maintenance before actually breaking down. Nothing like a bit of Girl-Power!   

There are no FIFO workers here. All mine workers have to be live in the township. This was part of the contract between all parties (Mining company and indigenous landowners). The indigenous felt if the town was to be supported, the mine had to be the major supplier of everything. Roads, shopping precinct, schools, industry and so on. The community is home to around 3000 people; therefore, it is a very socially active town. Marathons, Bull Riding, Hunting and Fishing Competition are the major events the town is known for. 

The last crocodile attack happened in 2011, when one fellow fishing in a small stream (just below the caravan park), was grabbed by a 4-metre croc. Some lads at the local hotel heard his cries for help and came to rescue him. The fellow was holding onto the mangroves near the bank trying to prevent his demise. This croc was ‘relocated’. (Shot and buried at the local dump). 

Well it’s almost drinks time and as I can’t post the blog today will have to wait for the internet to be up and running again. Until next time…

We just got back online and as we are out of here tomorrow will upload this latest couple of editions.