Project Overview
Where we are now?
Work is progressing on Alcoa’s planned expansion of the Wagerup alumina refinery, following State Government approval in late 2006. Alcoa has begun detailed engineering and design work for the Wagerup Unit Three project and this is expected to take at least 12 months.
There is a dedicated team involved in the Wagerup Unit Three project.
The process design team is finalising the process scope for each of the refinery buildings. The engineering design team is supporting the scope definition process by selecting major equipment and reviewing engineering and design specifications used to ensure the refinery expansion design meets key emission and regulatory criteria.
Community Engagement
Wagerup Unit Three will see a range of important social initiatives delivered into the local area, which will represent an investment of more than $20 million by Alcoa over the next 20 years.
These initiatives are being driven by community involvement and local shires.
Two of the major initiatives are the Wagerup Sustainability Fund and the Enterprise and Learning Centre. This resulted from research and discussion with the local community about ensuring that the area around the refinery remains sustainable and viable beyond the life of the refinery operations. For more information please see section about social and economic benefits of Wagerup Unit Three.
The Western Australian Community Foundation (WACF) and Alcoa have established a deed creating the Wagerup Sustainability Fund.
Alcoa has established the charitable Fund in order to support the sustainable growth of the region surrounding the Wagerup refinery, in particular the Shires of Harvey and Waroona.
The Fund will support initiatives, facilities and projects that result in positive and sustainable change for the communities surrounding the refinery.
Western Australian Community Foundation will serve as Trustee for the Fund, and oversee financial and grant-making requirements.
Alcoa will contribute an initial $400,000 and subsequently make annual donations of approximately $400,000 into the Fund. Precise contributions will be linked to actual refinery production. Upon board approval of the Wagerup Three Expansion, Alcoa is also to commit a further $1million in donations.
The Fund is aiming to accumulate $20 million over 20 years, with grant funds split equally between the two participating shires.
Two advisory committees – one for Harvey and one for Waroona – will determine projects to be funded. The committees will meet jointly at least once every year to discuss and agree on funding priorities for the following year.
“We believe that through this Fund, Alcoa can make a sustainable contribution to community development in the region,” said Raphael Costa, Vice-President of Alcoa.
“We are very pleased to be having an independent party like Western Australian Community Foundation administer this Fund for the community.”
The Community Consultation Network
Alcoa’s Wagerup refinery has made significant progress in addressing community concerns and working with the local community.
A thorough community engagement program has focused on the Community Consultation Network (CCN) to ensure the region around the refinery benefits in a sustainable way that provides a secure and prosperous future.
While considerable consultation has been undertaken as part of Alcoa’s environmental approval process, required to expand the Wagerup refinery, consultation has also been undertaken beyond this on a number of environmental, health, social and economic issues.
The Wagerup Unit Three consultation is part of a longer-term strategy to engage in a dialogue on what it will take for the refinery to be genuinely considered a good neighbour.
The Wagerup CCN was established in 2000 to be the primary consultation forum for Wagerup. Its open membership currently includes Waroona, Hamel and Yarloop community representatives plus Waroona and Harvey Shire representatives. The group meets monthly to discuss refinery and community issues, with meeting minutes published in the local media.
As part of the consultation process for the proposed refinery expansion, the CCN monitored the integrity of the consultation process to help ensure it was fair, transparent, open and inclusive.
The CCN continues to meet regularly to discuss community issues surrounding Wagerup refinery. For more information please contact us at wagerup3@alcoa.com.au or on (08) 9733 8620.
Alcoa wants the community in the surrounding region fully engaged and fully informed on all aspects of this project.
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