Alcoa asked to address environmental “risks”

SOUTHERN Rural Water (SRW) has asked Alcoa for more information about potential environmental risks posed by its groundwater pumping test at its former Anglesea coal mine, where the nearby river has become permanently acidic.

The request is in response to the aluminium company’s May application for a six-month extension of its existing water licence that’s being used to trial the long-term sustainability of filling the mine.

More than 30 submissions opposing the application were lodged, including from the Surf Coast council, which resolved in June to resist the project unless it was proven to have no detrimental impact on the river and catchment.

SRW, along with other water and planning authorities including the state government, have consistently maintained there was “no evidence” that Alcoa’s decades of groundwater extraction has caused “adverse environmental impacts” in the river and estuary.

SRW declined to provide an assessment timeline, but in its most recent update said “a review of submissions has identified a number of additional questions on the purpose of extending the trial”.

“SRW has requested that Alcoa provide additional information to allow the assessment of the balance between additional understanding of the system from the previous pump test and any risks posed to the environment.”

The Surf Coast Shire also wants the “cautionary tale” of the Barwon Downs borefield to be noted during Alcoa’s Anglesea experiment, a reference to Barwon Water’s 2019 decision to end decades of groundwater pumping in the northern Otways after it was proven to be draining waterways and exposing acidic soils that were leading to fish kills.

General Manager Seamus Butcher said Barwon Water had provided a submission supporting Alcoa’s recent application, as it could “gather data which could inform any potential future licence application by Alcoa as part of a strategy to fill the mine void”.

“Following the resolution by Surf Coast Shire Council, we contacted the Shire to offer a briefing on Barwon Downs Borefield, including lessons we learnt,” Mr Butcher said.

A Department of Environment, Land, Water, Energy and Planning (DELWP) spokesperson said it remains committed to supporting “the best possible outcome from the rehabilitation of the former coal mine for Anglesea residents and the broader community.

“Any water used for site rehabilitation must be from a source that is sustainable and doesn’t negatively impact local waterways.”

The spokesperson also confirmed that SRW “will make available all information relating to Alcoa’s groundwater licence to the public.”