1. Australia
  2. Mine Approvals

Our mine approvals

Our Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines in WA supply ore to our three local alumina refineries – Kwinana, Pinjarra and Wagerup. Combined, these operations employ about 4,300 people in WA and produce about 50 per cent of Australia’s alumina, the feedstock for aluminium, an increasingly important element in a world looking to further decarbonise. In 2022, we paid about $700 million in wages and benefits in WA and spent $1.7 billion with some 920 local businesses.

A robust statutory process for developing, reviewing and approving our annual rolling five-year plans for Huntly and Willowdale is set through the WA State Agreements that govern our operations. This process involves expert input by a host of government departments and agencies and approval by the Minister for State Development in consultation with other ministers.

The WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) is considering a third-party request that it conduct an environmental impact assessment of our current and next rolling five-year mine plans.

We are committed to transitioning to the EPA’s contemporary process as demonstrated by our referral in 2020 of our next major mine regions at our Huntly mine – Myara North and Holyoake – for environmental impact assessment. But there must be a reasonable transition period and during that time, we will continue to work collaboratively with various stakeholders and regulators to meet evolving requirements and expectations.

Mining and Management Programs

The robust statutory process for developing, reviewing and approving annual five-year rolling mine plans – known as Mining and Management Programs (MMP) – for our Huntly and Willowdale bauxite mines is set through the WA State Agreements that govern our operations.

Our MMPs detail our full operational cycle including:

  • Exploration
  • Environmental and social studies and management
  • Community and stakeholder consultation
  • Mining
  • Rehabilitation
  • Continuous improvement

We work cooperatively with various stakeholders to adapt our MMPs to meet evolving requirements and expectations.

Mining and Management Program Liaison Group

Various government departments and agencies make up the Mining and Management Program Liaison Group (MMPLG), which is tasked with overseeing the development and review of our MMPs.

The MMPLG provides considerable expert input throughout the process with approval resting with the Minister for State Development in consultation with other ministers.

The MMPLG is chaired by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science, and Innovation and comprises representatives from:

  • Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
  • Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety
  • Department of Water and Environmental Regulation
  • Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage
  • Water Corporation
Alcoa's Mining and Management Program (MMP) approvals process follows this cycle: Exploration, environmental & social studies; MMP drafted; Stakeholder & community consultation; MMP submitted to MMPLG for review & feedback; Alcoa updates MMP & resubmits; MMPLG reviews and makes recommendations; State Development Minister consults others & approves; MMP implemented in line with conditions & regulatory requirements.

Protecting environmental and social values

Our MMPs set out how potential environmental and social impacts are identified, avoided, minimised, or managed throughout our operational cycle. Areas of particular focus include:

  • Biodiversity
  • Water
  • Pollution (air, noise, visual)
  • Amenity
  • Heritage
  • Recreation
  • Access
  • Fire
  • Forest restoration

We work cooperatively with stakeholders and the MMPLG to adapt our MMPs to meet evolving requirements and expectations.

In addition to this statutory mine planning and approvals process, our operations are governed by the full suite of environmental laws that apply across the State and country.

We also have our own internal commitments and targets. This includes not mining in old growth forest, gazetted national parks, and areas of high conservation value.

EPA environmental impact assessment process

The WA Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) environmental impact assessment process is conducted in accordance with the WA Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act) to provide the WA Government with advice on the environmental acceptability of development proposals and statutory planning schemes. The EPA process is applied across a range of industries in WA.

Proposals are referred to the EPA, either by the proponent or a third party. The EPA then decides whether they require formal environmental impact assessment, and if so, at what level.

If assessment is undertaken, the EPA considers the proponent’s documentation, public input, and advice from relevant experts and agencies before recommending to the Minister for the Environment whether the proposal should progress and if so, whether conditions are needed to ensure appropriate environmental management.

Find out more about the EPA environmental impact assessment process here.

How this applies to our mining operations

The EPA is considering a third-party request that it conduct an environmental impact assessment of our current and next annual rolling five-year mine plans.

We are committed to transitioning to the EPA’s contemporary process as demonstrated by our referral in 2020 of our next major mine regions – Myara North and Holyoake – for environmental impact assessment.

There must be a reasonable transition period during which we will continue to work collaboratively with various stakeholders and regulators to meet evolving requirements and expectations. That includes increasing controls to protect drinking water, stepping up mine site rehabilitation, and enhancing the management of social impacts.

Myara North and Holyoake environmental impact assessment

We referred our plans to transition to the new Myara North and Holyoake mining areas to the EPA for environmental impact assessment in June 2020.

The level of assessment has been set at the highest level, a Public Environmental Review, and will include a 10-week public comment period.

Since referring our plans, extensive studies and stakeholder engagement have been undertaken to understand potential environmental and social impacts and how these can be avoided, mitigated or managed.

Securing approval for these two new mining areas will sustain operations at our Huntly mine and Pinjarra and Kwinana refineries for approximately 10 years.

Further information about this project can be found on our website and in our Huntly-Pinjarra Environmental Assessment Fact Sheet.

More robust MMPs

As well as transitioning to the contemporary EPA environmental impact assessment, we continue to work cooperatively with various stakeholders to adapt our MMPs to meet evolving requirements and expectations. Our MMPs are becoming more robust through:

  • Additional technical detail.
  • Commitments to additional studies, monitoring and reporting.
  • Details on enhanced risk management and controls.
  • A roadmap to further improvements including increased transparency.

Stepping up mine site rehabilitation

We understand the privilege of operating in the jarrah forest and since our first rehabilitation program started in 1968 have continually improved and evolved how we firstly protect and then rehabilitate and restore this unique environment after bauxite mining. For decades, we have worked collaboratively with government, research institutions and others to optimise the return of native plants and animals to the areas we mine.

More than 75 per cent of the areas we have cleared for mining have been rehabilitated and are at different stages of development. We are stepping up our rate of rehabilitation along with our governance, leadership, and research into this vital part of our business.

Find out more on our website and in our Rehabilitation-Factsheet.

Stepping up water management

During the 60 years we have been operating in WA we have never negatively impacted public drinking water supply and are committed to ensuring that continues to be the case.

We have undertaken targeted initiatives over the last 12-18 months to further enhance water management at our mine sites including:

  • Installed hundreds of additional water monitoring bores and increased water turbidity monitoring to enhance mine design, water quality management, and risk management.
  • Prioritised rehabilitation in water catchments with stepped-up drainage assessments and designs informing this work.
  • Updated mine pit and road designs with a strong focus on drainage.
  • Stepped up mining fleet maintenance regimes and associated training to prevent spills of diesel, oil and hydraulic fluid.
  • Collaborated with the WA Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to manage risks associated with water potentially impacted by low levels of PFAS.

Find out more about our water management here.

Stepping up social impact management

We have successfully coexisted with other land uses for 60 years and are committed to ensuring we continue to do so.

Community enjoyment is a priority and we work with a broad range of stakeholders to understand values and aspirations. We undertake studies and consultation to identify, avoid or minimise potential impacts on public amenity and to areas of social significance including heritage sites, tourist attractions and recreational facilities.

Ways we are stepping up include:

  • Establishing significant no mining zones around Dwellingup and Jarrahdale to enhance protection of local environmental and social values. Find out more about our no mining zone commitment here.
  • Increasing engagement and shared value opportunities with local communities and Traditional Owners including around employment, procurement, engagement, community investment and employee volunteering.
  • Collaborating on and developing plans to identify, avoid, minimise or add value to existing and proposed recreational trails and facilities.
Map of southwestern region of Australia highlighting Alcoa refineries and shipping in Kwinana, Pinjarra, Wagerup, and Bunbury in relation to Alcoa bauxite mines in Huntly and Willowdale within the boundary of Alcoa’s Mineral Lease 1SA