Conservation groups will host a series of ‘Town Hall’ meetings over the next two months to raise awareness of the impact of Alcoa’s bauxite mining operations in Perth’s Darling Range and a proposal to clear another 11,500ha of the Northern Jarrah Forest. 

The first meeting will take place on 30 June at the Lesser Hall in Pinjarra, with guest speakers including Dave Osborne (HikeWest), Rusty Geller (Peel Environmental Protection Alliance) and Jeff Bremer (Jarrahdale Forest Protectors).  

Issues to be discussed include deforestation, 60-years of failed forest rehabilitation, air pollution from bauxite dust (containing silica), the very real possibility of water supply contamination, loss of habitat for threatened species, and the impact on world class nature-based recreation trails such as the Munda Biddi and Bibbulmun Track.  

Further Town Hall events will be held in Crawley (UWA), Walyalup/Fremantle, Mundijong and Kalamunda, as well as an online forum. You can find more details here (or visit: endforestmining.org.au/town-halls-2025). 

The US mining giant has a two-pronged proposal before the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to clear an area of threatened species habitat in Perth’s water catchment zone equivalent to 27.5 Kings Parks, or 5,355 Optus Stadium playing surfaces approximately. 

Also being considered is a proposed increase both in production at Alcoa’s Pinjarra Alumina Refinery and the rate of bauxite mining at its existing Huntly Mine, further escalating rates of deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions.  

Both proposals are now open for public comment on the EPA’s website until 21 August, with the Town Hall meetings intended to update the community on what impact the expansion would have on the Northern Jarrah Forest, and the endangered species which rely on it. Those species include the Carnaby’s, Forest Red-tailed, and Baudin’s Black Cockatoos, along with Chuditch and Quokkas. 

The meetings will be hosted by the Conservation Council of WA, the WA Forest Alliance, The Wilderness Society, the Dwellingup Discovery Forest Defenders, and the Peel Environmental Protection Alliance. 

In announcing the public consultation period, the EPA stated, “the unique biodiversity of the Northern Jarrah Forest, and the number of environmental factors to consider means a 12-week public consultation period is entirely appropriate”. 

This will be the first time in 60 years of Alcoa’s mining operations that the public will be able to scrutinise the company’s forest clearing. Environment groups say the proposal threatens the Northern Jarrah Forest and its biodiversity, climate, culture, water, and natural heritage for future generations. 

Further information: 

Access images and video of Alcoa’s bauxite mine here 

Public submissions can be made to the EPA here. 

For interviews, please contact:  

Jason Fowler | Senior Campaigner WA Forest Alliance | 0487 806 385 |  

[email protected] 

Jenita Enevoldsen | Senior Campaigner The Wilderness Society | 0405 941 500  

[email protected] 

John Cooke I Media Advisor I Conservation Council of WA I 0433 679 780 

[email protected] 

Background figures and statistics:  

Note: does not include proposed mining by Chalice Mining or proposed exploration activities by other companies.