Alcoa Mine Fences Block Water Inspections

Fencing erected around Alcoa's bauxite mine sites in 2025 has been identified as a barrier, preventing inspectors from conducting crucial site visits. Water Corporation documents indicate that these access restrictions have hindered necessary monitoring of Alcoa's operations within public drinking water catchments. The mining company's expansion plans have been assessed as posing a high risk to the water supply for Perth's 2.3 million residents.

Further complicating the issue, the Western Australian government has ceased providing the Water Corporation with Alcoa's mining plans. This change, detailed in briefing documents, has significantly constrained the utility's ability to plan for and mitigate potential risks to the water supply. Conservation groups have expressed alarm over the "lack of oversight" and are urging the government to ensure unimpeded access for monitoring Alcoa's activities.

Alcoa has stated that it has not negatively impacted Perth's drinking water in over 60 years of operation and is committed to protecting water supplies. However, Water Corporation inspectors experienced ongoing issues with site access into February 2026, requiring new training and vehicle modifications. The corporation continues to engage with Alcoa to resolve these concerns and ensure timely data sharing, while also monitoring mining activity near water catchments.