¶ CONSERVATION groups have hit out at the Federal Government’s approval of South32’s Worsley Alumina expansion.
Under the expansion, South32 will build on its Boddington bauxite mining operation and develop new mining areas.
It will pave the way for a 15-year extension of the Worsley refinery’s operating life and the creation of 150 jobs.
However, conservationists have labelled the approval “reckless”, stating it has given the green light to the clearing of 4500 hectares of threatened species’ habitat.
It is claimed the expansion will impact black cockatoo nesting sites and critical habitat for woylies and numbats.
WA Forest Alliance senior campaigner Jason Fowler said the End Forest Mining alliance collectively sent over 18,000 community letters to Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek “calling on her to do her job”.
“Threatened species will take a triple hit - from climate impacts, from clearing and a failed rehabilitation program,” Mr Fowler said.
“South32’s Worsley operation is WA’s fourth highest greenhouse gas emitter, releasing a further 51 million tonnes of greenhouse gases by 2050 puts the Northern Jarrah Forest at serious risk of ecosystem collapse.
“Rehabilitation does not and cannot restore the jarrah forest after bauxite mining. We need to mitigate all threats to these forests and threatened species and stop relying on false solutions that just don’t work.”