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September 14, 2006
Employees support alumina refinery expansion
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Alcoa employees at Wagerup alumina refinery have hailed the environmental approval for the Wagerup Unit Three expansion as an important step forward for Alcoa and local communities.
More than a third of Wagerup employees live in the immediate area around the refinery, while about 90 percent live in the Peel and South-West regions, which will be the major beneficiaries of the expansion proposal.
The support follows an employee initiative earlier this year in which over 300 refinery employees signed a petition sent to the Premier and the Minister for the Environment supporting the Wagerup Unit Three proposal.
Wagerup Unit Three will create about 260 permanent new Alcoa jobs and about 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, most of which will occur in the Peel and South West regions.
“Wagerup Unit Three will mean secure employment for me and my family and long-term sustainability for our local community, creating more jobs and more infrastructure,” Wagerup Environmental Assistant and Waroona resident Jo Vergone said.
Wagerup Environmental scientist and Bunbury resident Anita Loguidice said the approval was a validation of the detailed environmental research that has gone into the approval process.
“I know what sort of commitment Alcoa has had to this because I have helped work on a lot of the studies, some of which are still ongoing,” Anita said.
“There has been a lot of effort put in to ensure we are able to meet our commitment not to increase noise, dust or odour impacts on our neighbours and this approval helps justify that effort.”
Production supervisor Alan Douglas, who now lives in Australind, said Wagerup Unit Three would mean a more secure future for the refinery and its employees.
“Such a big investment in new technology will increase the production efficiency of the refinery, as well as the environmental efficiency,” he said.
“That will mean a longer life for Wagerup because it will be more competitive into the future.”
After 22 years working with Alcoa, Mandurah resident and Wagerup Training Department employee Lou Pynenburg said it was great to see the Wagerup Unit Three opportunity continue.
“This is not just an opportunity for our existing workforce, but for new employees to enter our highly-trained workforce,” he said.
Alcoa has trained more than 1100 WA apprentices in the last 40 years and its local employment preference policy means many more locals will get to join its workforce in the years ahead.
Media Contact: Courtney Hoogen on 9316 5208 or 0400 127 427
Related Links
To find out more about the Wagerup Unit Three project click here
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