Shire of Waroona waiting for Alcoa’s Wagerup emergency response plan as it reassures residue storage is stable

A mining giant has hit back at claims its storage of residue from one of its alumina refineries is unstable as a Peel council holds out for the company to release an emergency response plan.

Alcoa of Australia has rebuked claims its refinery residue storage areas were unstable after it admitted two of its nine locations within the Shire of Waroona “failed to be confirmed or certified as stable” at some point in their operation.

It comes as the council awaits an external emergency response plan from the company in the event there was a major issue at the Wagerup refinery.

A company spokesperson said despite the concerns over its refinery residue, no “significant issues” have been identified during assessments, including those undertaken earlier this year.

They said there was a vast difference between the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management’s definitions of “failing stability checks” and “failing to be confirmed” as stable.

The locations which have been reported as not being confirmed as stable either required further assessment to determine if they meet GISTM requirements or the company is currently working to bring them up to the GISTM standards.

The company also stated its reporting was cumulative, so any issues highlighted may not have occurred over the previous 12 months.

A Department of Water and Environmental Regulation spokesperson said Alcoa’s residue storage areas were designed and managed to the technical standards of the Australian National Committee on Large Dams and International Commission on Large Dams, with emergency spillways in place to mitigate any uncontrolled overflowing.

“The storage areas are designed to contain and prevent discharge of the bauxite residue to the environment and waterways,” the DWER spokesperson said.

“With the exceptions of emergency spillway scenarios, additional licence conditions include controls for water pollution and the monitoring of surface water and groundwater.

“The department also has a range of investigative and enforcement powers available under the Environmental Protection Act, to ensure compliance with environmental licensing approvals, to support the protection of the environment and our water resources.”

Despite the reassurances of both Alcoa and DWER, Waroona shire president Mike Walmsley said the company has not yet provided the council with an emergency response plan should there be any complications with the residue storage for the Wagerup refinery.

He said it was not the shire’s role to develop emergency plans, though the council has developed its own plans in case of a disaster.

“These external plans (are) the responsibility of Alcoa,” Cr Walmsley said.

“Those impacts could include marine flora and fauna kills. Some of the water may also be harmful for human contact and there may be agricultural impacts for the downstream farmers.”

Cr Walmsley said the shire was looking for Alcoa to provide a documented approach to its significant risks and is hopeful the council will receive the documentation within 12 months.

The Alcoa spokesperson said the company has internal response plans for all of its facilities, and is looking to expand its wider stakeholder engagement by August 2025.