Public invited to comment on proposed mega mine expansion for first time in forest mining history

For the first time since forest mining began in WA, the public is being invited to comment on a proposal as a mining giant eyes the biggest expansion in decades.

The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting feedback on both Alcoa’s 2023-2027 bauxite mining operations in the Darling Ranges and its Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Revised Proposal for the next 12 weeks.

The proposal includes the planned future mining locations within the Huntly mine area, which were first referred for assessment to the EPA in 2020, along with a proposed 5 per cent increase to refining capacity at the Pinjarra Alumina Refinery, outlining the mining giant’s next 20 years of operation.

EPA chair Darren Walsh said the decision to release both documents simultaneously would ensure better consideration of the combined and cumulative impacts.

“A combined public review will also be easier and more efficient for the community and stakeholders,” he said.

“The sheer volume, the unique biodiversity of the northern jarrah forest, and the number of environmental factors to consider means a 12-week public consultation period is entirely appropriate.”

Alcoa Australia president Elsabe Muller said since the proposal was initially delivered in 2020 they have refined their plans based on environmental and social study outcomes, stakeholder feedback and commitment to continuous improvement.

However, WA Forest Alliance senior campaigner Jason Fowler said if the expansion was allowed to progress the damage done could likely render the ecosystem “functionally extinct” in the future.

Ms Muller said Alcoa had made several important changes to the initial proposal, including the creation of a mining avoidance zone of about 2600ha around Jarrahdale as well as adjusting plans to to avoid areas of environmental and social value including the Bibbulmun Track.

“In addition, we will maintain public access to various other tracks and trails that are used by the local community and visitors to the region,” she said.

“We’ve also deferred plans to mine in the Reservoir Protection Zones, supporting our track record and commitment to protecting drinking water.

“These changes reflect what we have heard through our consultations.”

Parts of Alcoa’s past and current mining operations for the 2022-2027 period at Huntly and some areas of the Willowdale area are also before the EPA.

Mr Fowler said he and many others had waited 60 years to have the chance to have a say about what Alcoa does and doesn’t do and this was an important opportunity for the WA public to have their say.

“These forests are recognised as one of the global biodiversity hotspots — It has the highest biodiversity of any temperate forest in Australia,” he said.

“It’s incredibly special and unique because it’s so isolated, it’s got such a unique biology, like jarrah trees, which you don’t find anywhere else in the world — so, this is a global issue.”

Mr Fowler said when discussing Alcoa’s potential expansion scientists throughout the State have said the move would be an “extinction level event”.

If this is allowed to go ahead, you can reasonably say that the northern jarrah forest will become functionally extinct in the future.

However, Ms Muller said Alcoa has a long and successful track record of responsible operation in the northern jarrah forest.

“We do not mine in any old growth forest or areas of high conservation value and are proud to have rehabilitated more than 75 per cent of the areas cleared for mining, with these at different stages of growth and forest restoration,” she said.

“Importantly, we are accelerating and effectively doubling our rate of rehabilitation from about 500 hectares per year to 1000ha per year by 2027.

“All of this reflects our commitment to environmental excellence.”

Mr Fowler said highlighting the lack of clearing in old growth forest was a hollow statement.

“The current definition of old growth is very flawed — even if there’s been only one tree logged in there then it’s not considered old growth, even if everything around it is ancient,” he said.

Mr Fowler said he also has huge concerns with water security for the region, with Alcoa’s expansion coming so close to several critical water supply dams throughout the Darling range.

Conservation Council of WA nature program manager Rhiannon Hardwick said Alcoa’s Pinjarra and Wagerup operations were the fifth highest greenhouse gas emitter in WA and approval for the expansion would allow a further 2.69 million tonnes of GHGs to be released by 2050, adding more strain to forest already impacted by climate change.

“We know that black cockatoos are facing extinction due to habitat destruction, including through the impacts of bauxite mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest in the Serpentine-Jarrahdale region, and inappropriate housing developments on rapidly diminishing banksia woodlands,” she said.

“Just this year, South32’s bauxite mine expansion was approved, including the clearing of 3800ha of the Northern Jarrah Forest. Alcoa’s proposal to clear a further 7500ha of forest in Perth’s water catchment zone will be environmentally devastating.

The Wilderness Society senior campaigner Jenita Enevoldsen said if approved the proposal flies in the face of the Federal Government’s pledge to end extinctions.

“It would give Alcoa permission to bulldoze thousands of football fields of threatened species habitat, critical to the survival of species like the red-tailed black cockatoo, numbat and woylie,” she said.

Submissions to the EPA can be made through the Consultation Hub until August 21 where Alcoa’s response to the submissions received will be published before the EPA completes its assessments and delivers its report to the Minister for the Environment.

Mr Walsh said the EPA intended to produce one report with an anticipated two sets of recommendations.

He said the EPA was working towards completing both assessments in the first quarter of 2026 leading to a three-week public appeal period when the minister will consider any appeals before making the final decision on the proposal.