A few months ago we received some seemingly excellent news: Alcoa would withdraw from exploring in areas surrounding Mundaring Weir, and expand mining avoidance zones around Dwellingup. Whilst this is an incredible win for the Perth hills communities who objected to Alcoa’s mining plans, it’s not exactly all Alcoa makes it out to be.
Back from the Brink: A Protection Agenda for Nature is a new report by Conservation Council of WA (CCWA), calling for sweeping nature law reforms in Western Australia to avoid further threatened species extinctions.
On Monday 13 April, work stopped at Alcoa’s Huntly mine site for three hours as a result of direct action by a group of 16 concerned Western Australians. This was the first time direct action has stopped Alcoa’s mining activities since the 1970s.
“Over a long period of time I think we’ve been disappointed with the performance of Alcoa when it comes to protecting the environment and rehabilitating the environment.”
That’s what Roger Cook told ABC Radio when asked about the $55 million fine Alcoa has received as a consequence of illegal forest clearing dating back to 2011*.
