THE HISTORY OF WEIPA Town Development and Administration
Weipa Town has grown over the last 40 years. The first commercial shipments of bauxite from Weipa were made in 1963. Since that year the operation has developed to such an extent that the original accommodation of 12 houses and single quarters for 90 people has increased to approximately over 1200 houses, duplexes and flats. Most of the accommodation in town is owned by Rio Tinto Aluminium and rented to staff. However, some of the land has become freehold, some individuals, local contractors and government departments have chosen to build their own homes. Privately owned properties in Weipa now amounts to 47%.
Today, Weipa is best described as a linear town on the main access road into the Western Cape. The Town extends 9 kilometres from the southern to the northern boundary its size is 1,240 Hectares. The Town has four distinct suburbs known as Rocky Point, Trunding, Nanum and Evans Landing. All suburbs with the exception of Evans Landing (industrial) are primarily residential, but they are also home to some commercial/retail and community and special use zoning. The land outside the Weipa Town Boundary is primarily Rio Tinto mining lease and inside the Cook Shire. There are parks, BBQ areas and other recreational facilities that are available to Weipa residents in these areas.
Weipa's climate was a major consideration in the design of the Town facilities. All buildings had to be cyclone resistant and special attention was given to such aspects as shading, ventilation and building materials. RioTinto is responsible for the administration of the town, which it does through the Town Office. The Town Office is acting in the role of a Local Authority and has staff which one would normally associate with a local Council, including a Town CEO. The services supplied through Town Office are also of a similar nature to those supplied by local Councils throughout Australia i.e. road maintenance, water supply, building control, town planning, public library services, a public swimming pool, parks, gardens, ovals and garbage collection. Furthermore, Weipa has been gazetted as a local authority area and has adopted local laws. There is also an Advisory Development Plan to govern and guide the future development of the Town.
As it's first step on the road to a 'Normal' Local Government situation (commonly referred to as 'town normalisation'), a Citizens Advisory Committee (now known as the Weipa Town Authority, WTA) was established in 1994 to manage the Town on behalf of Comalco.
The WTA comprises of four elected Community Representatives, two Rio Tinto Aluminium appointed representatives and an appointed Traditional Owner. Like outside Councils, the WTA meets once per month and makes decisions on local government matters e.g. town planning, community development, infrastructure and services (water, sewerage etc.) and local government rates and charges. Although the WTA mirrors an outside Council they have no statutory powers.
In 1997, and again in 2000 it was hoped that a Town Commission/Council would be formed to govern Weipa, however, Rio Tinto Aluminium withdrew its request until the majority of the population expressed a change and the Town was in a more sustainable position.

Top of page