November 26, 2009 - Refining or smelting had been carried out on the Port Kembla site since 1908, with little or no control placed on the toxic cocktail of byproducts that spewed into the surrounding air for decades.   Originally owned by the Electrolytic Refining and Smelting Co, the smelter was sold in September 1990 to CRA, which then became known as Southern Copper.  Southern Copper expanded operations in the following years, but it became obvious to the long-suffering community and environmental protection authorities that its operating standards did not meet expectations.  In its last year of operation, Southern Copper exceeded air quality standards for sulphur dioxide set by the World Health Organisation and the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council almost 4000 times.  In late 1993, Southern Copper was given an ultimatum: improve your environmental performance or shut down.  Southern Copper closed in February 1995. 
In mid 1996, four Japanese companies formed a consortium and agreed to buy the smelter licence and comply with the toughest environmental controls ever seen in NSW through the use of new technology.  Several months later, Port Kembla Copper was granted NSW Government consent to operate.  Despite a $600 million investment, community anger rose with growing incidents of brown-spotting - particles of acidic material ejected from the 198m stack which settled on cars, pathways and homes.   The plant continued to breach its environmental operating licence until the Japanese shareholders finally had enough and ordered the troubled plant's closure on July 28, 2003.