Concerns have recently again been raised regarding the activities of international aluminium mining and refining business Alcoa in the Northern Jarrah Forest region, a unique ecosystem.
On the 24th February, protestors rallied at Parliament House to demonstrate.
The group’s concerns were about what they claim are years of unlawful clearing, possible contamination of drinking water in the Main Serpentine Dam and the effects of operations on the three black cockatoo species that inhabit the Northern Jarrah Forest.
It was found that, between 2019 and 2025, Alcoa had cleared sections of land for bauxite mining without the required approval of the federal government, leading to a $55 million fine in February of this year.
The money from this fine will go towards environmental rectification works to be conducted by the company.
Given the importance of Alcoa to the mining economy of Western Australia, the Federal government has granted them a national interest exemption, which protects Alcoa from national environmental law for 18 months.
With mining activities having occurred within 300 meters of Serpentine Dam, fears have arisen that runoff of certain chemicals during heavy rain could have an effect on Perth’s drinking water.
The Water Corporation has previously acknowledged that instances of such runoff have occurred, and that a degree of contamination is certain.
Three endangered species of Black Cockatoo reside in the Northern Jarrah Forest, these being the Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo, Baudin’s Black Cockatoo, and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo.
Environmental groups have previously raised concerns the clearing of land for bauxite mining has destroyed essential nesting hollows in centuries-old trees, causing further threat to these species.
The Jarrahdale Forest Protectors said they are not pleased with the government’s response to the matter.
“How do they think they can ever get to net zero while they sanction the clearing of Australian forests? WA Premier Roger Cook has now been joined by Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt in orchestrating the further destruction of the Northern Jarrah Forest environment by making a deal with Alcoa to continue to strip mine an area that Alcoa have illegally cleared,” the group said.
“Climate targets obviously mean nothing to these Labor governments.”
Alcoa has since responded to the criticism.
A strategic assessment of future mining areas, in compliance with government guidelines, will soon take place.
“Operations at the Huntly and Willowdale mines will continue while the strategic assessment takes place. Alcoa of Australia will continue to limit clearing to 800 hectares per year, increase annual rates of new rehabilitation to 1,000 hectares per year by 2027 and will deliver environmental offsets according to EPBC Act requirements,” the company said in a statement.
“We are committed to responsible operations and welcome this important step in transitioning our approvals to a contemporary assessment process that provides increased certainty for our operations and our people into the future,” Alcoa President and chief executive William F. Oplinger said.
“We appreciate the Government’s recognition of the important contributions of our operations to the Australian economy. We’re proud of our more than 60 years as a leading Australian aluminium producer and the role we are now playing in support of critical minerals production.”
