Conservation groups have slammed a decision allowing a US alumina giant to continue mining operations in an ancient Jarrah forest.
The Western Australian government green-lit Alcoa's bauxite operations in the Northern Jarrah Forest, near Perth, until 2029, with beefed-up environmental protections.
Environmentalists say Alcoa has been given a "free pass" to continue land clearing and the amended regulations will not protect the forest, water, wildlife, climate and cultural heritage.
"Rather than choosing to rein in this company, as the WA community rightfully is demanding, the Cook Labor government has decided instead to just bend over backwards to make life easier for them," WA Greens MP Jess Beckerling told reporters on Thursday.
Conservation Council of WA executive director Matt Roberts said the new operation conditions were too weak and would enable and continue the destruction of the world's only jarrah forest.
"What we're not seeing is a move towards what it means to end mining in the jarrah forest," he said.
"Which is the leadership that we need from the government."
WA Forest Alliance director Jess Boyce said the community pressure had produced "some very slight improvements" in the environmental protections attached to Alcoa's operating restrictions.
"But it really does not go far enough," she said.
Announcing the approval, Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said the government understood the community was concerned about bauxite mining in WA's southwest.
“We recognise the importance of this region in supporting WA’s water supply, biodiversity, recreation, and tourism," he said on Thursday.
“The new conditions will deliver enhanced protections for public drinking water sources, black cockatoo habitat and other environmentally significant values."
Alcoa operates under a temporary exemption order in WA while the state's environmental watchdog assesses the company’s bauxite mining proposals.
The new regulations aim to bolster environmental protections "to ensure Alcoa is meeting government and community expectations".
The restrictions included expanded buffers for water reservoirs, black cockatoo nesting trees and significant trees to prevent mining in these areas.
Alcoa will also have to undertake mandatory fauna surveys, GPS recording, tree tagging and fencing before mining.
WA's jarrah woodlands are home to many endangered species, including Carnaby's and Baudin's black cockatoos. Large portions are designated as state forest.
Alcoa has mined bauxite in WA's southwest for 60 years and operates two bauxite mines and two alumina refineries, after the Kwinana Alumina Refinery shut in 2025.
It said it would ensure its mining operations were in line with the new regulations, "which provide strong protections for the environment".
“Alcoa remains focused on meeting evolving stakeholder and community expectations," a spokeswoman said.
The company said its operations employed about 4000 people and it spent $2 billion with local businesses and provided $6.7 million in funding to local community organisations in 2025.
The environmental assessment of Alcoa's current and future mining is ongoing, and a ministerial decision is expected in 2027.
The company has faced significant community criticism in recent years for unlawfully clearing protected native jarrah forest and critical black cockatoo habitat without proper approval.
It previously agreed to pay $55 million to restore the environment as part of an enforceable undertaking reached with the federal government for habitat destruction in the Northern Jarrah Forest between 2019 and 2025.
