Groundwater decision still in limbo

NEARLY two years after Alcoa applied to use groundwater to help fill the former Anglesea coal mine, regulators still cannot say when a decision will be made.

Southern Rural Water has repeatedly pushed back the expected timeframe for determining the application.

As part of its rehabilitation plans for the former mine, Alcoa is seeking approval to change groundwater extraction from the Upper Eastern View Formation aquifer from 4,000 megalitres to 1,500 megalitres a year, with the water to be used to fill the mine void over seven to 10 years.

The company lodged its application to amend the groundwater licence in July 2024 and public consultation was conducted in 2025.

Friends of the Anglesea River oppose the continued extraction of groundwater from the aquifer.

Spokesperson Keith Shipton said the ongoing uncertainty was difficult to understand.

“They were going to give us a decision in November [2025], and then it was going to be February or March [2026], and then it was May, and here we are in May,” he said.

“There’s no sign and no indication from them. They’ve gone very quiet.”

Shipton said the future of the aquifer and the health of the Anglesea River could become an issue in the seat of Polwarth ahead of next year’s Victorian election.

“I’m concerned the delay is inexplicable and it hasn’t been explained and it’s getting closer to the election,” he said.

A Southern Rural Water spokesperson said the water authority was working through a thorough assessment of the application.

“We are unable to provide a specific timeframe at this stage, but we will communicate with all parties as soon as we are able to do so,” the spokesperson said.

An Alcoa Australia spokesperson said the company welcomed the rigour of the regulatory process.

“Once an outcome is received, Alcoa will review the details of the decision internally to determine the appropriate next steps,” the Alcoa spokesperson said.

“The company looks forward to a resolution to enable development and delivery of a final Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan, inclusive of further community and stakeholder feedback to bring Alcoa closer to returning the site to the community.”