Weipa Mine is located on the Cape York Peninsula in Queensland and currently owned by Rio Tinto. In 2018, the mine produced 30.4 million tonnes of bauxite with an alumina percentage of approximately 50.6% Al2O3. The Weipa mine began operations in 1963. Bauxite mining at Weipa wasn't considered until the late 1950s when Harry Evans, a geologist, discovered the large-scale Weipa bauxite deposits.Berkman, D. A., & Patterson, G. W. (2020). Henry James (Harry) Evans. Retrieved from http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/evans-henry-james-harry-12467 The deposit was originally part of Aboriginal reserves but was leased to Comalco (now known as Rio Tinto) to mine after the “Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty. Limited Agreement Act 1957”Queensland Government. (2015, September 11). Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty. Limited Agreement Act 1957. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/inforce/current/act-1957-029 removed Indigenous ownership of the area surrounding the deposits.Queensland Government. (2017, March 2). Napranum. Retrieved from https://www.qld.gov.au/atsi/cultural-awareness-heritage-arts/community-histories/community-histories-n-p/community-histories-napranum Since then, Rio Tinto has joined three agreements with local Indigenous groups to benefit Indigenous communities surrounding the Weipa mine. These agreements are the ELY Bauxite Mining Project Agreement (EBMPA) made in 1997,Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements (ATNS). (2008). ELY BAUXITE MINING PROJECT AGREEMENT. Retrieved from https://www.atns.net.au/agreement?EntityID=4634 the Western Cape Communities Co-Existence Agreement (WCCCA) made in 2001,Western Cape Communities Trust. (n.d.). Western Cape Communities Co-Existence Agreement. Retrieved from https://www.westerncape.com.au/welcome/our-agreement/ and the Western Cape Regional Partnership Heads of Agreement made in 2008.Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements (ATNS). (2008). WESTERN CAPE REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP HEADS OF AGREEMENT. Retrieved from https://www.atns.net.au/agreement?EntityID=4633
