Eden Project considers phased rollout

PROPONENTS of the Eden Project in Anglesea are considering options to “unshackle” the major eco-tourist development from the water body at the former Anglesea mine, and could roll out unrelated parts of the project first.

Revealed more than four years ago, the $150 million proposal for the Surf Coast town has “earth”, “fire”, “air” and “water” areas.

The last of these is closely associated with the former Alcoa mine’s water body, which Eden Project International has previously stated would need to be at least half full by 2024 for Eden Project Anglesea to go ahead.

As of this month, the water body is at about 17 per cent of its proposed full volume.

In the June Alcoa Anglesea Community Update, Eden Project International chief experience development officer Blair Parkin gave an update on Eden Project Anglesea, saying the proposal had been “subject to some frustrating delays due to a number of factors – not least the global pandemic – but we feel positive for the future and hope to be making progress again soon”.

“Our Alcoa friends are proceeding as planned with the work needed to establish a sustainable way to fill the water body”.

“In parallel to this, we have been looking at ways to deliver an Eden Project for Anglesea in a phased manner.

“This would mean working to develop the other elements of the project before the water body is filled.

“The potential to unshackle the project’s progress from the important work on the water issue feels like a shot in the arm, and provides an opportunity for another significant tourism asset for the region, consistent with the character of Anglesea.”

Mr Parkin congratulated Alcoa for its work so far to rehabilitate the mine “in readiness for its next stage of transformation”.

“The work is a true embodiment of the Eden Project mission and we doff our caps from our own former mine here in the UK,” he said.

Alcoa has run a six-month groundwater pumping test from the Upper Eastern View Formation (UEVF) aquifer, with the aim of using groundwater to more quickly fill the water body and not only meet the requirements of Alcoa’s Anglesea Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan but also the ambitions of Eden Project Anglesea.

In the June Community Update, Alcoa stated the company was encouraged by the positive results from the testing but would not consider amending its licence to allow for long-term groundwater use until the present technical process was complete.

“Part of this ongoing work is updating the Anglesea Groundwater Model, in conjunction with Barwon Water, which is under way.

“The model will be independently peer-reviewed by a government-appointed Technical Review Panel.

“We also then plan to undertake a further groundwater impact and environmental risk assessment, which will help inform a future potential decision to seek a licence amendment.”