❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice seeks detailed information on Alcoa's mining activities, including land clearing, rehabilitation, residue disposal, and bauxite/alumina production. The response provides some data but cites commercial confidentiality and resource constraints for withholding certain information.
AnsweredQoN 11Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to question on notice 1807, and I ask: (a) how many hectares have been mined in each of the last five years to date; (b) what is the total area mined to date; (c) what is the total area cleared to date for mines, roads, conveyor belts, residue disposal and any other purpose; (d) how much of the total area mined required the clearing of native forest; (e) how much of the total area cleared was native forest; (f) how many hectares have been rehabilitated to date; (g) how much of the area in (f) has been rehabilitated with Jarrah forest species; (h) how much rehabilitated forest has been returned to the State over the last 10 years; (i) what is the current annual production, in metric tonnes, of: (i) bauxite; and (ii) alumina; (j) how many hectares are currently used as residue disposal areas; (k) what is the total area of closed residue disposal areas; (l) how much residue has been produced in each of the last five years to date; (m) what is the total amount of residue produced to date; (n) when did Alcoa begin exporting bauxite; (o) how much bauxite has been exported to date; and (p) will the Minister table a map showing: (i) the mining leases; (ii) the area mined to date; (iii) Residue Disposal Areas; (iv) all other areas from which Jarrah forest has been and remains cleared; (v) the total area cleared to date; and (vi) the area rehabilitated to date?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
20 May 2025
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
6 days
(a) Mining rates are recorded in tonnes produced rather than hectares. However, a reasonable approximation for area mined is area cleared (albeit for all activities associated with mining as per question (c)). The clearing undertaken by Alcoa for the last five years for all operations is below:
Year
Clearing (Ha)
2020
826.13
2021
444.48
2022
378.53
2023
299.62
2024
306.61
(b) See (c).
(c) 25,462 ha.
(d – e) This information is not readily available and to answer this question would require considerable time and resources to separate mined areas from total areas, and to collate and verify detailed historical operational information since commencement. Therefore, it is not considered to be a reasonable use of resources to provide a response.
(f) 19,754 ha.
(g) Rehabilitation is undertaken in line with the Completion Criteria set by the Western Australian Government. The Completion criteria has changed over the years pursuant to Government policy, with the primary forest use requirement shifting from forestry objectives to conservation objectives in the late 1980’s. Over time, relevant government agencies and Alcoa have developed knowledge and expertise in the rehabilitation of the Northern Jarrah Forest, including efficiencies in rehabilitation and the use of technology. Alcoa continues to rehabilitate the Jarrah Forest in accordance with the Completion Criteria set by the government of the day.
Since 1988, Alcoa’s rehabilitation has exclusively used Jarrah forest species.
(h) 1,300 ha.
(i)(i) 27 Mtpa.
(ii) 7.6 Mtpa.
(j) 1,570 ha.
(k) 20 ha.
(l) That information is commercial in confidence as there are a number of ongoing commercial matters relating to storage infrastructure at each of Alcoa’s sites. Disclosure of these volumes would have the potential to prejudice these commercially sensitive negotiations.
(m) As of 31 July 2024, the aggregate volume of all residue storage areas is 408 Million Cubic Metres.
(n) 2017. Bauxite export ceased in 2021.
(o) This information is commercial in confidence.
(p)(i – vi) This information is not readily available due to the non-digitised nature of the historical maps, and to collate this information would divert staff away from their normal duties. Therefore, it is not considered to be a reasonable use of resources to provide a response.
Year
Clearing (Ha)
2020
826.13
2021
444.48
2022
378.53
2023
299.62
2024
306.61
(b) See (c).
(c) 25,462 ha.
(d – e) This information is not readily available and to answer this question would require considerable time and resources to separate mined areas from total areas, and to collate and verify detailed historical operational information since commencement. Therefore, it is not considered to be a reasonable use of resources to provide a response.
(f) 19,754 ha.
(g) Rehabilitation is undertaken in line with the Completion Criteria set by the Western Australian Government. The Completion criteria has changed over the years pursuant to Government policy, with the primary forest use requirement shifting from forestry objectives to conservation objectives in the late 1980’s. Over time, relevant government agencies and Alcoa have developed knowledge and expertise in the rehabilitation of the Northern Jarrah Forest, including efficiencies in rehabilitation and the use of technology. Alcoa continues to rehabilitate the Jarrah Forest in accordance with the Completion Criteria set by the government of the day.
Since 1988, Alcoa’s rehabilitation has exclusively used Jarrah forest species.
(h) 1,300 ha.
(i)(i) 27 Mtpa.
(ii) 7.6 Mtpa.
(j) 1,570 ha.
(k) 20 ha.
(l) That information is commercial in confidence as there are a number of ongoing commercial matters relating to storage infrastructure at each of Alcoa’s sites. Disclosure of these volumes would have the potential to prejudice these commercially sensitive negotiations.
(m) As of 31 July 2024, the aggregate volume of all residue storage areas is 408 Million Cubic Metres.
(n) 2017. Bauxite export ceased in 2021.
(o) This information is commercial in confidence.
(p)(i – vi) This information is not readily available due to the non-digitised nature of the historical maps, and to collate this information would divert staff away from their normal duties. Therefore, it is not considered to be a reasonable use of resources to provide a response.
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