Wagerup, Western Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids WagerupWestern Australia |
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| Established | 1890s | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 6215 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | [convert: needs a number] | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Waroona | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Murray-Wellington | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Forrest | ||||||||||||||
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Wagerup is a small town in the Peel region of Western Australia. It is located just off the South Western Highway. Wagerup sits between the towns of Waroona and Harvey. It is about 12 kilometers south of Waroona.
Contents
History of Wagerup
How Wagerup Got Its Name
The name Wagerup comes from an Aboriginal word. It means "the place of the emu." The original spelling was "Waigerup" or "Waigeerup." This name was first used for a small stream in the area.
When the railway station opened in 1896, it also used the older spelling. However, by 1899, when Wagerup officially became a town, the spelling changed to what we use today. Some local stories say that the person who painted the sign for the railway station made a spelling mistake.
Protests About the Refinery
In the mid-1970s, people became worried about mining plans near Wagerup. These plans involved digging in the beautiful jarrah forests. Many people protested against building the Wagerup refinery. Groups like the Campaign to Save Native Forests and the South West Forests Defence Foundation spoke out. They questioned the mining plans and the rules for Alcoa's mining operations.
Wagerup Today
The Alumina Refinery
Since 1984, a company called Alcoa has run an alumina refinery in Wagerup. An alumina refinery processes bauxite ore to make alumina. Alumina is a white powder used to make aluminum metal.
Over the years, some people living and working near the refinery have reported health issues. These include breathing problems, frequent nosebleeds, headaches, and nausea. Some reports also mentioned higher rates of certain illnesses. Media outlets, like the ABC's Four Corners program, have covered these concerns. However, no official link between the refinery and these health reports has been proven.
Refinery Expansion Plans
In September 2006, the government of Western Australia allowed Alcoa to make the refinery bigger. The plan was to make it the largest alumina refinery in the world. Its production capacity was set to increase from about 2.6 million tons per year to around 4.7 million tons per year.
However, strict rules were put in place for this expansion. These rules came from the Health and Environment departments. After this decision, residents in nearby Yarloop announced they would challenge it. They planned to take their concerns to the Supreme Court.
