"South32's Worsley Alumina expansion condemned by Boddington, Wandering, Williams residents", 7 August 2024

Residents from a number of communities in south-west Western Australia have banded together to oppose future South32 projects amid rising community concerns over the mining giant's Worsley Alumina bauxite project.

Locals for Environmental Action and Protection (LEAP) represents community members from the Shires of Boddington, Wandering, and Williams, around 130 kilometres south-east of Perth…

More than 130 appeals were lodged against last month's approval of the expansion at Worsley.

These included appeals by South32 itself which claimed restrictions went too far and would impact the viability of the mine, and LEAP and the WA Forest Alliance which said the conditions did not go far enough.

LEAP spokesperson Josie Sherlock said the main concern of the group, and the locals it represents, was the changing hydrology in the area due to land clearing.

It was also concerned about the amount of water used by the mine to mitigate the spread of dust and claims of inadequate community consultation.

… Similar concerns about water use and access to state forests have been expressed about neighbouring bauxite miner Alcoa in recent times…

In this instance, Dr Sherlock said many of the locals in Boddington and Quindanning were not even aware of the Worsley's Community Liaison Committee (CLC) until February of last year.

"Nobody told us it existed, and the Community Liaison Committee did not reach out to anybody or even tell us of future plans," she said.

A South32 spokesperson said the CLC had operated since 2004 and provided an open forum for community members.

"We have previously invited LEAP to join the mine CLC but our invitation has not been accepted," the spokesperson said…