❓ Dr. Pettitt questions the Minister for the Environment regarding Alcoa's rehabilitation efforts at the Willowdale mine, given increased clearing rates and lack of land handover. The Minister responds that no land has been handed back, rehabilitation criteria are under review, and recent clearing was previously assessed.
AnsweredQoN 303Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Alcoa—Willowdale mine
303. Hon Dr Brad Pettitt to the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to page 32
of the Water Corporation's Catchment Risk
Assessment Alcoa 2023–2027 that states the rate of clearing at
Willowdale mine has more than doubled compared to the case the decade prior,
representing a significant risk multiplier to Samson and Stirling Dam catchment
areas.
(1) Can the minister confirm whether Alcoa has
ever handed back a single hectare of land to the state government that meets
the rehabilitation completion criteria in full?
(2) If not, what is the justification for
approving this significantly increased rate of clearing at Willowdale?
303. Hon Dr Brad Pettitt to the Minister for the Environment:
I refer to page 32
of the Water Corporation's Catchment Risk
Assessment Alcoa 2023–2027 that states the rate of clearing at
Willowdale mine has more than doubled compared to the case the decade prior,
representing a significant risk multiplier to Samson and Stirling Dam catchment
areas.
(1) Can the minister confirm whether Alcoa has
ever handed back a single hectare of land to the state government that meets
the rehabilitation completion criteria in full?
(2) If not, what is the justification for
approving this significantly increased rate of clearing at Willowdale?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following response has
been provided by the Minister for the Environment.
(1) Alcoa has rehabilitated approximately 75% of
land cleared for mining. To date, no rehabilitated land has been handed back.
The rehabilitation completion criteria for handing back land is currently under
review by the Bauxite Strategic Executive Committee in consultation with the Department
of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
(2) No native vegetation clearing under the 2023–2027
Mining and Management Program has occurred at Willowdale as conditioned in the Environmental
Protection (Darling Range Bauxite Mining Proposals) Exemption Order 2023. Any
clearing that has occurred at Willowdale relates to areas previously referred to
and assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
honourable member for some notice of the question. The following response has
been provided by the Minister for the Environment.
(1) Alcoa has rehabilitated approximately 75% of
land cleared for mining. To date, no rehabilitated land has been handed back.
The rehabilitation completion criteria for handing back land is currently under
review by the Bauxite Strategic Executive Committee in consultation with the Department
of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
(2) No native vegetation clearing under the 2023–2027
Mining and Management Program has occurred at Willowdale as conditioned in the Environmental
Protection (Darling Range Bauxite Mining Proposals) Exemption Order 2023. Any
clearing that has occurred at Willowdale relates to areas previously referred to
and assessed by the Environmental Protection Authority.
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