The Western Australian (WA) Government has welcomed Alcoa‘s announcement that it will establish an 8,344-hectare mining avoidance area near Dwellingup.
The area will be over four times the size of Rottnest and will assist in conserving 5,000 hectares of forest and a combined 31 km of the Bibbulmun walking route and Munda Biddi cycle trail in the Dwellingup area.
The WA Government will work with Alcoa to put in place the necessary limitations to prohibit mining by the company or a third party.
“The announcement reflects the value of Dwellingup’s incredible landscapes, including the magnificent jarrah and marri forest, to the local community, its expanding ecotourism industry and the State,” Premier Roger Cook said.
Alcoa maintains a bauxite mining lease (ML1SA) in the Dwellingup area until 2045 under the Alcoa Refinery Agreement Act 1961, a State Agreement with the State Government.
Within Alcoa’s bauxite mining lease, the new mining avoidance area will link with the area Alcoa previously ruled out for future mining.
According to Alcoa, any prospective future mining will occur mainly east of Dwellingup and will be subject to environmental review and approval.
Alcoa’s Huntly Bauxite Mine, near Dwellingup, was established in 1976 and is the world’s second-biggest bauxite mine. The mine feeds ore to Alcoa’s Pinjarra and Kwinana alumina refineries and employs over 4000 workers in WA.
“This is an historic day for Dwellingup, with Alcoa’s announcement delivering certainty for the local community,” Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke said.
“I’m proud to have worked with the Government, Alcoa and the Shire of Murray to advocate for the local community and achieve this important outcome,” Clarke added.
