❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about Alcoa's bauxite mining impact on Perth's water catchments, traditional owner considerations, and Water Corporation's role in oversight. The Minister provides responses regarding sediment management, Water Corporation's advisory role, and cultural heritage management plans.
AnsweredQoN 544Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Alcoa—Perth water catchments
544. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for the Environment:
I refer the minister
to Alcoa's bauxite mining expansion in the jarrah forest and its potential
impact on Perth's drinking water catchments.
(1) Is the minister concerned that sediment run-off
from mining activity may carry pathogens into the water supply and compromise
treatment processes?
(2) Can the minister explain why the Water
Corporation has declined to participate in the Bauxite Strategic Executive
Committee (BSEC) citing a conflict with its charter to protect public water
resources?
(3) Why have traditional owner expectations not
been adequately considered in either the mine site clearing approvals or mine
completion criteria for Alcoa's operations?
544. Hon Amanda Dorn to
the Minister for the Environment:
I refer the minister
to Alcoa's bauxite mining expansion in the jarrah forest and its potential
impact on Perth's drinking water catchments.
(1) Is the minister concerned that sediment run-off
from mining activity may carry pathogens into the water supply and compromise
treatment processes?
(2) Can the minister explain why the Water
Corporation has declined to participate in the Bauxite Strategic Executive
Committee (BSEC) citing a conflict with its charter to protect public water
resources?
(3) Why have traditional owner expectations not
been adequately considered in either the mine site clearing approvals or mine
completion criteria for Alcoa's operations?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for some notice of the question.
Each of the member's
three questions are related to three different ministers' responsibilities. We
have coordinated an answer for the member, but she needs to ensure that the
questions she asks are directed to the right minister and then she is more
likely to get a more fulsome and earlier answer.
(1) The management of sediment run-off is part of
the government's Alcoa transitional approvals framework, established to oversee
Alcoa of Australia's bauxite mining operations in the Darling Ranges. This
includes the design and implementation of drainage controls to prevent run-off
from its operations, together with reporting requirements.
(2) The Minister for Water has advised that the
Water Corporation, unlike other members of the Bauxite Strategic Executive
Committee, has no legislative powers to regulate. Instead, it provides
technical advice to the BSEC through its role on the independent technical
advisory group as well as through its primary water quality regulator, the
Department of Health.
(3) Pursuant to Alcoa's 2023–2027 mining
management program conditions 15 and 17, Alcoa is required to prepare and
submit a cultural heritage management plan (CHMP). The CHMP must be developed
in consultation with regional corporation Gnaala Karla Booja and the Department
of Planning, Lands and Heritage. Alcoa's CHMP has been submitted to the
Minister for State Development and is currently with the BSEC for review.
for some notice of the question.
Each of the member's
three questions are related to three different ministers' responsibilities. We
have coordinated an answer for the member, but she needs to ensure that the
questions she asks are directed to the right minister and then she is more
likely to get a more fulsome and earlier answer.
(1) The management of sediment run-off is part of
the government's Alcoa transitional approvals framework, established to oversee
Alcoa of Australia's bauxite mining operations in the Darling Ranges. This
includes the design and implementation of drainage controls to prevent run-off
from its operations, together with reporting requirements.
(2) The Minister for Water has advised that the
Water Corporation, unlike other members of the Bauxite Strategic Executive
Committee, has no legislative powers to regulate. Instead, it provides
technical advice to the BSEC through its role on the independent technical
advisory group as well as through its primary water quality regulator, the
Department of Health.
(3) Pursuant to Alcoa's 2023–2027 mining
management program conditions 15 and 17, Alcoa is required to prepare and
submit a cultural heritage management plan (CHMP). The CHMP must be developed
in consultation with regional corporation Gnaala Karla Booja and the Department
of Planning, Lands and Heritage. Alcoa's CHMP has been submitted to the
Minister for State Development and is currently with the BSEC for review.
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