- The Cook Labor Government has introduced a new Exemption Order for Alcoa and will approve its 2025-2029 Mining and Management Program imminently
- Conditions in both significantly strengthen regulatory requirements to support Alcoa's transition to a modern environmental approvals regime
- Marks the next step in the Cook Labor Government's Alcoa Transitional Approvals Framework
- Independent Environmental Protection Authority continuing assessment of the company's bauxite mining proposals
The Cook Labor Government has introduced stricter new regulatory arrangements that apply to Alcoa of Australia's operations.
Alcoa operates under an Exemption Order as part of the government's Alcoa Transitional Approvals Framework, introduced in December 2023 to allow the company to continue operations while the independent Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) undertakes an assessment of the company's bauxite mining proposals.
A new Exemption Order has been introduced as part of a process that is strengthening regulatory requirements in the Northern Jarrah Forest to ensure Alcoa is meeting government and community expectations.
At the same time, the Cook Labor Government will approve Alcoa's 2025-2029 Mining and Management Program (MMP), accompanied by more stringent conditions which complement the new Environmental Protection Act Exemption Order.
The enhanced MMP conditions, together with the new Exemption Order, impose further restrictions on all of Alcoa's mining activities in environmentally sensitive areas, including:
- increasing protection buffers for water reservoirs by prohibiting mining within 2km of them;
- increasing protection buffers for black cockatoo nesting trees and significant trees in the Huntly mining area from 10 metres to 50 metres;
- a new definition for black cockatoo nesting trees based on identification by an independent fauna specialist;
- new definition and qualification requirements for independent fauna specialists;
- introducing mandatory fauna surveys, GPS recording, tree tagging and fencing prior to mining;
- a requirement that Alcoa's Compliance Assessment Plans must be reviewed and resubmitted every six months; and
- a reduction in Alcoa's exploration drilling footprint.
The new, more rigorous MMP approval conditions were developed by the government's advisory body, the Bauxite Strategic Executive Committee.
It brings together expertise from portfolios responsible for health, environment, water, Aboriginal heritage, mining, forestry and state development, ensuring a co-ordinated and evidence-based approach to the regulation of Alcoa's operations.
The 2025-2029 MMP approval will extend only to those mining areas in the MMP that have previously been referred to the EPA or are currently under assessment by the EPA and may be implemented only during the life of the new Exemption Order.
The government has now published the new Order which also enacts the revocation of the existing Order. It will be tabled in Parliament in accordance with the usual parliamentary processes.
The approved MMP and accompanying conditions will be published on Alcoa's website in the days after it is approved.
The current measures in place are temporary arrangements as the EPA process continues and the State Government works with Alcoa to modernise the framework in which the company operates under its State Agreements in Western Australia.
As stated by the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn:
"The Cook Labor Government acknowledges community interestsregardingpresent and future bauxite mining in the Northern Jarrah Forest.
"We recognise the importance of this region in supportingWA's water supply, biodiversity, recreation,andtourism.
"The new conditions will deliver enhanced protections for public drinking water sources, black cockatoo habitat and other environmentally significant values.
"Our government is committed to delivering strong environmental protection and management, while also recognising the economic contribution of mining and safeguarding local employment."
As stated by State Development Minister David Michael:
"The strengthened approval conditions that will accompany my approval of Alcoa's 2025-2029 Mining and Management Program will support the company's transition to contemporary environmental standards and a modern regulatory framework.
"With Alcoa's operations continuing while the Environmental Protection Authority finalises its assessment, these arrangements provide certainty for workers, local communities and regional economies that rely on the continuation of Alcoa's operations.
"The Cook Labor Government remains committed to the Alcoa Transitional Approvals Framework which is progressively transitioning Alcoa's operations to the same contemporary regulatory standards that apply to comparable mining operations across WA."
