Furious environmentalists call expansion approval for South 32’s Worsley mine a ‘nail in nature’s coffin’

Protesters gathered outside South 32’s Perth office on Wednesday morning, one week after the mining company’s South West Worsley mine development project received environmental approval from the Federal Government.

The demonstrators were calling for an end to the expansion of forest mining in WA’s jarrah forest, which could see thousands of trees felled each year across areas which are known habitat for endangered black cockatoos, western ringtail possums and woylies.

The South 32 protest followed a rally outside Alcoa’s Pinjarra office last Thursday where representatives of the Peel Environmental Protection Alliance, the Wilderness Society and End Forest Mining called for an end to the American mining giant’s expansion.

At last week’s event, protester Paddy Cullen called out the approval of South 32’s southern mine as a disgrace, highlighting Australia’s position as the only developed nation to be recognised as a deforestation hotspot.

He said the approvals go against the Government’s commitments, particularly an international pledge to end deforestation by 2030.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the approval was a “devastating and disgraceful” decision, putting another “nail in nature’s coffin”.

“With this approval the Albanese Government has given a licence for environmental destruction which will drive wildlife to extinction, push native forest to climate collapse and pollute precious water resources,” she said.

“It is a minute to midnight for the survival of endangered species that call this forest home. “

The Wilderness Societies Jenita Enevoldsen said the approval files in the face of the Federal Government’s “no new extinctions” promise and has shown nature is not a priority of the Government.

“The minister has not listened to the community over corporations,” she said.

“She has not applied the Global Biodiversity Framework or Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 and end extinctions when assessing this project.”

Conversation Council of WA campaign director Mia Pepper said the decision could have profound impacts on the endangered and critically endangered wildlife endemic to the forests.

“Habitat clearing is the primary driver of extinction for multiple forest and woodland dependent species including the three south west black cockatoos and the critically endangered woylie,” she said.

WA Forest Alliance senior campaigner Jason Fowler said the clearing could be a “triple hit” for threatened species dealing with climate impacts, habitat loss and failed rehabilitation programs.

“South32’s Worsley operation is WA’s fourth highest greenhouse gas emitter,” he said.

“We need to mitigate all threats to these forests and threatened species and stop relying on false solutions that just don’t work.

“While this decision (the approval) is disappointing, the community alliance is determined to limit bauxite-mining deforestation across the northern jarrah forest.”

A spokesperson from South 32 did not comment on Wednesday’s protest, but said its project avoided clearing areas identified as having high environmental value, including old-growth forest.

They said the company was committed to continually rehabilitating land it cleared through our operations, helping to re-establish flora and fauna habitat.

A spokesperson from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said a the approvals for South 32’s Worsley Bauxite Alumina Project Expansion came with strict conditions.

The conditions included progressively rehabilitating mined areas, protecting active black cockatoo nest hollows and ensuring the viability of the woylie and numbat population.

The mining company is also required to implement a water management plan and must protect and enhance lost native vegetation areas.