What future for WA’s northern jarrah forest?

In an article in the most recent issue of Wild mag (Summer 2021, issue #182) HikeWest President Dave Osborne explains how the ongoing expansion of bauxite mining in WA threatens both the environment and customary bushwalking areas in the Darling Range close to Perth.

Alcoa’s 2020 proposal to expand mining around the Huntly area will be subject to a Public Environmental Review (PER), but the article urges that in light of the major upscaling of the strip-mining operations in recent years, the more appropriate course now would be for the state government and EPA to require a full, lease-wide review of the anticipated environmental and social costs of its 100+ year mine-life, rather than the narrower PER process.

In situations of potential catastrophic outcomes, governments typically rush to apply the precautionary principle, as in water catchment access policy and COVID-19, arguing that where extensive scientific knowledge on a matter is lacking, there is a need to exercise maximum caution. Why not here also?

For the complete article see:

(Posted 18 January 2022.)