The Western Australian government faces mounting pressure to defend its commitment to safeguarding Perth's drinking water following a fresh set of revelations about potential contamination risks linked to Alcoa's mining operations on the city's outskirts.
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The US mining giant, long accused of jeopardising water safety, has drawn criticism for failing to adequately restore the Jarrah forest, which it has reportedly cleared at its bauxite mine sites. Over the years, Alcoa's operations have edged close to Serpentine Dam, a critical drinking water source, heightening fears of water quality risks.
While there is no evidence that Alcoa's activities have directly impacted Perth's water supply, newly obtained documents are declared to paint a more alarming picture behind the scenes.
A tranche of internal reports, secured by independent news outlet Boiling Cold through Freedom of Information laws and reviewed by ABC, reveals deep-seated concerns held by the Water Corporation.
The state government approved Alcoa's bauxite programme in December 2023, subject to strict environmental controls. However, internal documents show officials anticipated public backlash.
"This relaxation is likely to be highly contentious to the community and certain interest groups," one report stated.
Another internal document on drinking water safety disclosed that the Water Corporation and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) remained unconvinced that the existing protection measures were robust enough.
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