Kimberley conservation group urges government to rule out bauxite mining in far north Kimberley

Following a recent announcement that a company called ‘Valperlon’ (VBX) has raised capital to progress its years-old bauxite mining proposal in the far north Kimberley, Environs Kimberley (EK) has called on the Cook government to rule out such destructive mining in the region.

EK Executive Director Martin Pritchard said, “The north Kimberley is one of the most intact tropical terrestrial, coastal and marine environments in the world. It is not just a State and national treasure, it is globally unique. 

“In 2021 EK made its submission to the EPA assessment of this proposal, recommending it be rejected. There are numerous compelling reasons why strip mining for bauxite in this region is entirely environmentally unacceptable, including threats to high conservation value monsoon rainforest patches and impacts from port development to the outstanding marine environment adjacent to the minesite - which is now a marine park.

Humpback dolphins in the north Kimberley. Photo: Martin Pritchard.

 “The Cook government must do what the Barnett government did ten years ago in relation to possible bauxite mining on the iconic Mitchell Plateau, south of this proposal.

 “Premier Barnett had the foresight to terminate the State Agreement that would have allowed strip mining for bauxite on the Mitchell Plateau. For exactly the same reasons, strip mining for bauxite further north near Kalumburu should also be permanently ruled out.

“The decision by the Barnett government to remove the longstanding threat of bauxite mining on the Mitchell Plateau via enactment of the Alumina Refinery (Mitchell Plateau) Agreement (Termination) Act 2015, clearly indicated the WA government’s strong view that bauxite mining is not an acceptable activity in the North Kimberley. 

“As Premier Barnett stated at the time, ‘The termination legislation will also prevent the making or granting of any mining or exploration tenement applications over the Mitchell Plateau area until the area has become a Class A National Park. The Government has also acted to protect adjacent areas from mining tenement applications through the creation of an exemption under section 19 of the Mining Act 1978.’”

“The thought of turning this beautiful region into another landscape ravaged by bauxite strip mining is mind-boggling. Bauxite companies have already laid waste to tens of thousands of hectares of jarrah forest in WA’s south west. Such a disaster must not be inflicted on the north Kimberley.”