Port Pirie, South Australia
Encyclopedia
Transport
Port Pirie is located 5 km (3 mi) off National Highway One. It is serviced by an airport five minutes out of the city.Railways
The first railways in Port Pirie were of the narrow [3' 6"] gauge.From 1938 to 1970, Port Pirie had the distinction of being a break-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
railway junction
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
between railways of three different gauges
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
:
- 3' 6" to Broken HillBroken Hill, New South Wales-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
. - 4' 8½" to Kalgoorlie, Western AustraliaKalgoorlie, Western AustraliaKalgoorlie, known as Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is a town in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia, and is located east-northeast of state capital Perth at the end of the Great Eastern Highway...
(transcontinental 'Indian Pacific' service). - 5' 3" to AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
.
- Only the 4' 8½" gauge remains.
The original railway station was in Ellen Street, with firstly narrow gauge, then additionally broad gauge, tracks running down the centre of the street from 1875 to 1967.
Industry and employment
The main industries are the smeltingSmelting
Smelting is a form of extractive metallurgy; its main use is to produce a metal from its ore. This includes iron extraction from iron ore, and copper extraction and other base metals from their ores...
of metals, and the operation of silos
Storage silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials. Silos are used in agriculture to store grain or fermented feed known as silage. Silos are more commonly used for bulk storage of grain, coal, cement, carbon black, woodchips, food products and sawdust. Three types of silos are in widespread use...
to hold grain. The silos have been closed.
Port Pirie's main employer is Nyrstar
Nyrstar
Nyrstar N.V is the world’s largest zinc metal producer and is also one of the world’s largest primary lead smelting and refining companies. It was formed on 31 August 2007 through a merger between the zinc alloys operations of the Belgian company Umicore and the zinc and lead smelting operations of...
Limited, which operates the largest lead smelter/refinery in the southern hemisphere. A lead smelter has been operating in Port Pirie since the 1880s, and high blood lead levels in the local population are an ongoing concern. The Stack, which can be seen miles away, is 205 metres tall, and is the tallest structure in the state. In 2006 Zinifex formed a joint venture with Umicore
Umicore
Umicore N.V. is a multinational materials technology company headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. Formed in 1989 by the merger of four companies in the mining and smelting industries, Umicore has since reshaped itself into a more technology-focused business encompassing such areas as the refining...
to create Nyrstar, which owns the smelter, with the intention that it would eventually be an entity separate from the parent companies.
Flinders Industrial, a new industrial estate, is currently in its second stage and is planned to be home to the new council depot. There were plans to build a sulphuric acid plant for the benefit of the Nyrstar Smelter, but this project has been shelved and deemed not feasible.
Development
A new $3.3 million cultural precinct is being built in the city by the Port Pirie Regional CouncilPort Pirie Regional Council
The Port Pirie Regional Council is a Local Government Area in South Australia, focused on the city of Port Pirie. It has a population of about 22,000 people. The council's administrative facilities and works depot can be found in Port Pirie. Other rural towns such as Crystal Brook, Redhill,...
in partnership with the Federal Government. A committee is also looking at building a multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
. The swimming pool is now state of the art after receiving a $1 million refit. Plans are underway to establish a large shopping complex in the city with an additional supermarket and department store. The city's population is continually growing and property prices continue to rise. The Port Pirie Regional Council has a number of large projects that will be launched or completed next financial year.
Camel Abattoir
Magdiens Australia have selected a site to build a $15 million abattoir in Port Pirie to slaughter camels from the outback. The facility may employ 40 staff. The town had an abattoir operated by Conroys, which was eventually shutdown several years ago. Not only will camels be slaughtered, but goats and buffalo as well. The final product would be exported to areas of the world such as the Middle EastMiddle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Waterfront development
The PPRC, with the State Government, are creating a waterfront which will revitalise the area from the Main Road boat ramp up to the area off Ellen street. Plans are to build parks, bikeways, bistros, a large playground (largely funded by Zinifex) and retail areas. The development has already started and is estimated to cost nearly $3m, but the development has been delayed.Tenby10 (Lead levels)
Lead smelters contribute to several environmental problems, especially raised blood lead levels in some of the town population. The problem is particularly significant in many children who have grown up in the area. There is a government project to address this. Nyrstar plans to progressively reduce lead in blood levels such that ultimately 95% of all children meet the national goal of 10 micrograms per decilitre. This has been known as the tenby10 project. Community lead in blood levels in children are now at less than half the level that they were in the mid 1980s.The Port Pirie smelter has a project underway to reduce lead levels
Lead poisoning
Lead poisoning is a medical condition caused by increased levels of the heavy metal lead in the body. Lead interferes with a variety of body processes and is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems...
in children to under 10 micrograms per decilitre by the end of 2010.
"The goal we are committed to achieving is for at least 95% of our children aged 0 to 4 to have a blood lead level below ten micrograms per decilitre of blood (the first ten in tenby10) by the end of 2010 (the second ten in tenby10)."
Higher concentrations of lead have been found in the organs of bottlenose dolphins stranded near the lead smelter, compared to dolphins stranded elsewhere in South Australia. The health impacts of these metals on dolphins has been examined and some associations between high metal concentrations and kidney toxicity were noted.
Education and cultural aspects
Mid North
The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern...
area. Many towns in the area rely on Port Pirie for shopping and employment. It also has many educational institutions such as John Pirie Secondary School (years 8-12), St Mark's College (reception - year 12), Mid North Christian College (reception - year 12), many preschools and primary schools, and a TAFE
Technical and Further Education
In Australia, training and further education or TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses, mostly qualifying courses under the National Training System/Australian Qualifications Framework/Australian Quality Training Framework...
Campus (Adult Education).
Port Pirie is home to the National Trust Historic and Folk Museum and Memorial Park. Every September and October it hosts a country music festival. It has significant Italian & Greek communities.
The Keith Michell Theatre, within the Northern Festival Centre, is named after the actor Keith Michell
Keith Michell
Keith Michell is an Australian actor, particularly noted for his television and film performances as King Henry VIII of England.- Early life :He was born in Adelaide and brought up in Warnertown, near Port Pirie...
who grew up in Warnertown
Warnertown, South Australia
Warnertown is a settlement in South Australia. At the 2006 census, Warnertown had a population of 532....
, 5 km (3 mi) from Port Pirie.
Media
Port Pirie is serviced by two local newspapers, The Recorder (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and Flinders News (Free) (Wednesdays). The Recorder has recently changed to a morning paper, after being delivered at around 3pm in the afternoon. Now readers can grab a copy of the paper off their front lawn early in the morning. It covers a small coverage area outside of the city however the Flinders News covers the mid north, Clare Valley and part of the Yorke Peninsula.Just recently the Flinders News won an award at the nationwide Fairfax Regional Media Awards for best co-op as well as placing runner-up in best feature and sales team of the year.The Advertiser also covers some Port Pirie news, but to a very small extent. Television coverage is broad. ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and SBS
Special Broadcasting Service
The Special Broadcasting Service is a hybrid-funded Australian public broadcasting radio and television network. The stated purpose of SBS is "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect...
are available in the city with Southern Cross (7, 9 and 10) as well as Austar
Austar
Austar is an Australian telecommunications company. Its main business activity is Subscription Television but it is also involved with internet access and mobile phones...
. Several radio stations cover Port Pirie including ABC 639AM, ABC 891AM, 1044 5CS, 1242 5AU, triple j
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
, Magic FM and Trax FM (a community station).
State & Federal
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The results shown are from "Port Pirie West", the largest polling booth in Port Pirie, which is located at the SA TAFE Campus.
Port Pirie is part of the federal division of Grey
Division of Grey
The Division of Grey is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir George Grey, who was Governor of South Australia 1841-45 ....
, and has been represented by Liberal MP Rowan Ramsey
Rowan Ramsey
Rowan Eric Ramsey is the Liberal Party of Australia representative for the electoral division of Grey, which covers the vast geographical majority of South Australia, succeeding prior Liberal MP Barry Wakelin as of the 2007 federal election.-External links:**...
since 2007. Grey is held with a margin of 4.43% but is considered a safe Liberal seat.
The city is part of the state electoral district of Frome
Electoral district of Frome
Frome is an electoral district of the House of Assembly in the Australian state of South Australia. It is named after Edward Charles Frome, the third surveyor-general of South Australia. The electorate is based around the industrial city of Port Pirie and the agriculture areas of Clare and Gilbert...
, which had been held since 1993 by former Liberal Premier, Rob Kerin
Rob Kerin
Robert Gerard Kerin was the Liberal Premier of South Australia from 22 October 2001 to 5 March 2002. He also served as Deputy Premier of South Australia to John Olsen from 7 July 1998 until he became premier upon Olsen's resignation....
, with a margin of 3.4%. It also has been considered a safe Liberal seat.
Although the region is generally Liberal-leaning because of its agricultural base, Port Pirie is an industrial centre that is favourable to the ALP.
In late 2008 Rob Kerin announced his retirement, which led to a by-election being held in January 2009. Port Pirie mayor Geoff Brock
Geoff Brock
Geoffrey Graeme "Geoff" Brock is a South Australian politician, representing the seat of Frome in the South Australian House of Assembly as an Independent, after a shock win at the 2009 Frome state by-election, defeating the Liberal candidate Terry Boylan. He had a high local profile prior to the...
announced his candidacy as an independent, and subsequently took the seat off the Liberals at the 2009 Frome by-election
Frome state by-election, 2009
A by-election was held for the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Frome on 17 January 2009. This was triggered by the resignation of former Premier and state Liberal MHA Rob Kerin...
. After the poll for the by-election had closed and first preferences had been counted, (but before other preferences had been distributed), the result was Lib: 39.2%; ALP: 26.1%; Brock 23.6%; Nat: 6.6%; Greens: 3.8%; Other: 0.7%.
State Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith (Liberal Party) (prematurely) claimed victory. Distribution of National, Greens and other preferences placed Brock ahead of the ALP candidate. Hence with the assistance of the ALP candidate's preferences, Geoff Brock won the by-election 51.7% to 48.3% for the Liberal candidate.
Local
Port Pirie is in the Port Pirie Regional CouncilPort Pirie Regional Council
The Port Pirie Regional Council is a Local Government Area in South Australia, focused on the city of Port Pirie. It has a population of about 22,000 people. The council's administrative facilities and works depot can be found in Port Pirie. Other rural towns such as Crystal Brook, Redhill,...
(PPRC) local government area (along with some of the sparsely inhabited areas around it).
Notable residents - past and present
Sportspeople- Mark BickleyMark BickleyMark Alan Bickley is an Australian rules football coach of the Adelaide Crows in the Australian Football League . Before becoming a coach, Bickley was a player for the Crows from 1991 until 2003, captaining the team to both the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships and media commentator, most notably...
(1969-), Former Adelaide Crows captain - Mark JamarMark JamarMark "Russian" Jamar is a professional Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League .-Early life:...
(1982-), Melbourne Demons player - David TillerDavid TillerDavid Tiller is a former Australian rules footballer in the South Australian National Football League , playing for the North Adelaide Football Club....
(1958-), Former North Adelaide Roosters captain - Elijah WareElijah WareElijah Ware is a retired Australian Rules Football player, who played for Port Adelaide in the AFL, and played for the Central District Bulldogs in the SANFL....
(1983-), Port Power and Central Districts player - Abby BishopAbby BishopAbby Bishop is an Australian professional basketball player in the WNBA. Bishop also plays for the Dandenong Rangers of the Australian WNBL...
(1989-), Canberra Capitals player - Lewis JohnstonLewis JohnstonLewis Johnston is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League .Johnston was drafted to Sydney with the 12th selection in the 2008 AFL Draft....
(1991-), Sydney Swans player
Others
- Geoff BrockGeoff BrockGeoffrey Graeme "Geoff" Brock is a South Australian politician, representing the seat of Frome in the South Australian House of Assembly as an Independent, after a shock win at the 2009 Frome state by-election, defeating the Liberal candidate Terry Boylan. He had a high local profile prior to the...
, State Politician - Sir Hugh CairnsHugh Cairns (surgeon)Sir Hugh William Bell Cairns was a British neurosurgeon.Hugh Cairns was born in Port Pirie, but came to Adelaide for his secondary education at Adelaide High School and tertiary education at the University of Adelaide...
(1896–1952), Rhodes Scholar, Neurosurgeon and crash helmet proponent - Andrew LaceyAndrew LaceyAndrew William Lacey was both a member of the Australian House of Representatives and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Australia....
(1887–1946), Federal and State Politician, State Leader of the ALP 1933–1938 - Keith MichellKeith MichellKeith Michell is an Australian actor, particularly noted for his television and film performances as King Henry VIII of England.- Early life :He was born in Adelaide and brought up in Warnertown, near Port Pirie...
(1928-), Actor - John NobleJohn NobleJohn Noble is an Australian film and television actor, and theater director of more than 80 plays. He was born in Port Pirie, South Australia, Australia and is currently starring as scientist Walter Bishop in the J. J. Abrams television series Fringe.He made occasional appearances on the...
(1948-), Actor and director
See also
:Category:People from Port Pirie- Diocese of Willochra
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Port PirieRoman Catholic Diocese of Port PirieThe Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie is a suffragan Latin rite diocese of the Archdiocese of Adelaide, erected in 1887 covering the Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas, Flinders Ranges, Nullarbor Plain, and Mid and Far North regions of South Australia, Australia....
External links
- Port Pirie, South Australia reference
- Port Pirie Regional Council
- "Port Pirie", Travel section, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 January 2008.
- "Port Pirie smelter changes from Zinifex to Nyrstar", ABC News, 31 August 2007.
- Nystar, Home page - English.
