Alcoa's Proposed Bauxite Mining Expansion in WA's Jarrah Forests Sparks Environmental Concerns

Alcoa is proposing to expand its bauxite mining operations in WA's jarrah forests, sparking concerns over the impact on wildlife and water quality. The company has mined in WA since the 1960s and is seeking to increase its alumina production at the Pinjarra refinery until 2045. The Environmental Protection Authority has opened the assessments to public comments, while Alcoa insists it has strict measures in place to manage potential risks.

Alcoa, a global aluminium producer, has proposed to expand its bauxite mining operations in Western Australia's jarrah forests, a move that has sparked significant environmental concerns. The company's plans, which include increasing alumina production at the Pinjarra refinery until 2045, have been released for public comment by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) [1].

The proposed expansion involves three mining regions: Myara North, Holyoake, and O'Neil, and would increase the volume of caustic tailings stored each year at the Pinjarra refinery by 1.6 million tonnes a year to 11.6 million tonnes [2]. Alcoa's director of regulatory approvals, Kane Moyler, has stated that the company has strict measures in place to manage potential risks to both conservation and drinking water supplies. However, concerns remain over the impact on Perth's drinking water and endangered species.

The EPA has opened the assessments to the public for comments and submissions, with a 12-week period for public consultation [2]. Conservation Council WA (CCWA) has expressed concerns about the environmental impact, stating that Alcoa's proposal to clear a further 7,500 hectares of forest in Perth's water catchment zone would be environmentally devastating [1].

Alcoa's mining activities have been exempt from most of the state's environmental legislation, and the company is governed under state agreements that allow it to mine about 7,000 square kilometres of forest [1]. Despite this, the company has not completed rehabilitation in any of the 280 sq km of forest it has cleared, according to the WA government [1].

The EPA is working towards publishing a single assessment report by March 2026, with sets of recommendations for both the current mining operations and the expansion [2]. The report would then be open for public comment for three weeks, after which the Appeals Convenor would make a report to the environment minister, who would decide whether the proposals can go ahead and under what conditions.

The proposed expansion has drawn strong opposition from environmental groups and politicians. The Greens spokeswoman on Forests, Jess Beckerling, has called the proposals outrageous and stated that they would be the final nail in the coffin for the forest’s climate resilience and the endangered wildlife who rely on these forests [2].

The potential impact on Perth's water supply has also been a significant concern. The state-owned Water Corporation has ranked bauxite mining as "the single most significant risk to water quality in Perth and the South West" [2]. The company has been advertising that 75% of the cleared land has been rehabilitated, but critics argue that the process is incomplete and misleading [2].

Alcoa employs about 3,800 people in WA and has a long and successful track record of responsible operation in the northern jarrah forest. The company's expansion plan has deferred mining in Reservoir Protection Zones that cover forest within two kilometres of a dam, but it does not exclude the possibility of accessing those areas later [2].

The EPA's assessment of Alcoa's proposals will be a critical moment in determining the future of WA's jarrah forests and the impact on Perth's water supply.

References:
[1] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-30/battle-over-alcoa-plans-to-expand-mining-in-wa-jarrah-forests/105357762
[2] https://www.boilingcold.com.au/alcoas-plans-to-mine-was-jarrah-forest-for-20-more-years-released/