Alcoa pulls back on Perth Hills drilling as bigger mining questions loom

The firm's director of regulatory, Kane Moyle, in a recently released statement on Monday, clears the air that the decision to remove the areas has been initiated after receiving direct feedback. This feedback stated the "low-impact" exploration drilling potential highlighted in a public comment during the Environmental Protection Authority. 

Alcoa's mining and management plan

The initial mining and management plan outlined activities to be conducted in a span of five years, which are updated annually on a rolling basis by considering the endorsement by the State Government and its considerations. Firm's mining and management plan for 2025-2029 will be rolled out to the Minister for State Development for endorsement, as the current 2023-2027 mining and management plan is under further scrutiny before the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) as a part of its assessments of current and proposed mining activities.

In the 2023-2027 mining and management plan, a proposal was made to the EPA for its intention to expand its mines and increase the overall alumina production. As a part of the exploration plan, the firm had included the goal to undergo exploration in the Perth Hills. However, due to the rising environmental concerns, the firm had to halt the exploration in the area. Nonetheless, the company is still on the road to expand its Myara North, Holyoake and O'Neil mining regions. This also includes its Huntly and Willowdale mines and increases its alumina production at its Pinjarra refinery.

Alcoa's take on the turn of events 

Alcoa's 2023-27 Mining and Management Plan had been under the radar of the environmental watchdogs, which previously used to be handled by the state bureaucrats. It used to look at the areas which were previously identified as potential future exploration drilling sites, including Armadale, Kalamunda, Mundaring, Beverley and York local government areas. 

Kane Moyle, Director of Regulatory, Alcoa, stated, "While exploration drilling is a low-impact activity and does not indicate an intention to mine an area but rather to broaden geological knowledge of the region, we understand the strong environmental and social values of the Perth Hills to local communities and the broader public."

As per the WA Premier, Roger Cook, the mining company is "very cognisant of both the environmental and the social concerns in relation to their mining activities" and the state government had been in continuous touch with the firm throughout the proposal duration. 

He added, "We are working with them closely around their mine management plan to ensure that we can really bring them into a contemporary environmental regime so that they can continue to benefit from mining the bauxite, we can continue to benefit from the many thousands of jobs that they create and we can protect the environment at the same time."

Environmental concern forcing direct halt

Contradictories have no plan to leave and this is also the case for the mining company here, where Conservation Council WA executive director Matt Roberts made a comment. This comment included the mining firm's Perth Hills plan never being a primary concern, as it is negligible in relation to the plans to expand mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest by 11,500 hectares over the next 20 years.

His comment, "The company cites community feedback for this decision, so it needs to start listening to the voices behind the 59,000 public submissions which were lodged with the EPA during the recent 12-week public consultation period over the expansion plans."

Roberts does not stop here and further indulges in the discussion that the West Australian communities are making it as clear as the sky that Alcoa have lost its social licence and zero tolerance for any further destruction to the Jarrah forest. 

He added, "If Alcoa is given license to bulldoze a further parcel of forest the size of 27.5 Kings Parks we face the further loss of habitat for threatened species, and the almost certain contamination of Perth's water supply."

As per the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, the internal advice from 2023 in the firm's mining and exploration plans has previously nudged the activities to be at a "high level of risk to public drinking water."

WA Greens environment spokeswoman Jess Beckerling marks the withdrawal of Alcoa's decision about the Perth Hills as an "incredible win." She further states that there are no means under which the plan for the North Jarrah Forest will take into consideration or place.