- Alcoa
commits to a mining avoidance area around Dwellingup
- 8,344
hectare zone to be established around the forest town
- Cook
Government to work with Alcoa to ensure appropriate restrictions are put in
place
The Cook Government has welcomed today's
announcement from Alcoa that it will establish an 8,344 hectare mining
avoidance area around Dwellingup.
Set up to preserve the environmental,
lifestyle, ecotourism and recreation values of the Dwellingup area, the area
will be more than four times the size of Rottnest, helping to protect 5,000
hectares of forest and a combined 31 kilometres of the Bibbulmun walking track
and Munda Biddi cycle trail.
The State Government will work with Alcoa to
ensure the appropriate restrictions are put in place to prevent mining by the
company or a third party.
Through the Alcoa Refinery Agreement Act 1961, a State Agreement with the Western
Australian Government, Alcoa holds a bauxite mining lease (ML1SA) up until 2045,
which includes land around Dwellingup.
The new mining avoidance area within Alcoa's
bauxite mining lease will connect with land the company has already ruled out for
future mining.
Alcoa has stated that any potential future
mining will predominately be to the east of Dwellingup and will be subject to
environmental review and approval.
Located near Dwellingup, Alcoa's Huntly
Bauxite Mine was established in 1976 and is the world's second largest bauxite
mine. The mine supplies ore to Alcoa's Pinjarra and Kwinana alumina refineries
and supports more than 4000 WA jobs.
Comments
attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"I welcome Alcoa's announcement that it has
committed to not mine within an area of more than 8,300 hectares around
Dwellingup.
"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.
"My Government will work with Alcoa to
protect the natural beauty of the Dwellingup area for generations of Western
Australians to come."
Comments attributed to Murray-Wellington MLA
Robyn Clarke:
"This is an historic day for Dwellingup,
with Alcoa's announcement delivering certainty for the local community.
"This is one of the most beautiful parts of
our State, and the people and businesses in Dwellingup now know that their home
will be protected for generations to come.
"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."
