Alcoa unveils $15m in funding for new forest research centre following concerns around mining operations

Alcoa has unveiled a dedicated forest research centre after coming under fire for its mining and rehabilitation works on the Darling Range. The aluminum producer revealed it will spend $15 million on research over the next five years at an environmental symposium held at Murdoch University earlier this month, amid increased environmental scrutiny of its South West bauxite mining operations. It will also increase its in-house environmental research team from four to 11 people, alongside upgrading several existing facilities to support increased research. Interim Australian operations vice-president Tanya Simmonds said the centre would build on decades of work. “Over the past 50 years, we’ve maintained an inhouse team of environmental researchers and contributed to collaborative projects, leading to significant progress in rehabilitation outcomes, water management, fauna management and return, and countless other advancements in environmental stewardship,” she said. “Through the Forest Research Centre, we aim not only to expand understanding of the forest, but contribute to improving overall forest health, as well as facilitating wide reaching application of the science across all manner of land uses and forest management globally.” Alcoa states the centre will focus on continuing the company’s research on plant diversity return, fauna recolonisation and water stewardship, alongside the new areas of embracing Indigenous cultural practices, and supporting forest conservation beyond mining. Ms Simmonds said researchers would be able to access unmined forest areas, rehabilitation locations and areas where mining has recently ceased. “Having this resource in close proximity to Perth and other key regional centres provides exceptional value as a training ground for the next generation of environmental specialists,” she said. “We hope to grow on our current program of supporting Masters and PhD students with research aligned with the centre’s focus areas.” Alcoa will seek to attract outside funding to the centre, whose governance committee is expected to be formed in coming months ahead of research projects beginning early next year. It comes as the company faces increased scrutiny of its bauxite mining and rehabilitation activities in the region over the past year and is facing an assessment by the Environmental Protection Authority. The State Government included $10.5 million in funding as part of the recently released 2024-25 Budget to monitor the company’s compliance with conditions of its mining leases.