Weipa 12-9-12

Michael and I went on a town/mine tours this morning.  We took the car down to the mechanics for a grease & oil change, early and they kindly drove us to  our pickup point.  The tour went for 2 hours, the guide was extremely knowledgeable indeed.  The prices for accommodation/housing are horrendous.  $300-$600 per week rent or $500-$600 thousand to buy.  They are not particularly special to look at from the outside anyway.  They are prefabricated dwellings in the main. Everything here comes by barge which is one of the reasons for the expense.  The other, of course, is the remoteness, you don’t really have any choice.

The mine is owned by rio tinto and it was interesting to see how aluminium is mined, it’s very shallow mining, they just scrape away the surface, the ore is about 1-5 metres below the surface.

We saw a terraced retaining wall made up of large tyres from  mining equipment.  Apparently when Rio bought out Comalco, they didn’t use the same machinery, so these tyres didn’t fit.  They couldn’t sell them so they made the wall.  I think there may be at least a hundred in it – all new and worth $40000 each.  Yes Forty Thousand each.

Tony and Jen took their car to be serviced (didn’t go on the tour, they have seen mines before) and waited for it.  Tony asked the mechanic to rotate the spare one onto the back (preventative maintenance).  When he had a better look at the spare tyre (now on the back) he saw that it was damaged. It’s a wonder the guys didn’t tell him so when he was there on the spot.   He and Michael are out changing it back now.

We have done most of our shopping, (from the one supermarket – Woolworths) ready to head out tomorrow.  Our trip to the top could prove to be more interesting than we thought.  A big semi trailer has come off the Jardine River Ferry – the only way across.  The ferry is out of commission until the semi is lifted out of the river.  We have heard that this could be Friday, but more likely to be Monday.  We are thinking of the logjam of people either waiting to come this way (they have been stranded) and those of us heading to the top.  One of the people we chat with has told us that there is a heavy lifter on the way.

We are going to the bowling club for tea tonight.

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY FOR THE 15th BELLE.  We hope you have a really great day.  Love from Nanna and Pa