Dear NRPG members and interested,

Please help to publicise this protest below by the WAFA/Northern Jarrah Forest Protectors Alliance. The NRPG is signed up to the WA Forest Alliance “Forest Charter” to protect them.

Kind regards,
Steve Gates

President, NRPG Bushcarers

From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2024 1:27 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Protest to STOP Alcoa -Sunday 28th July – 10 am Bruno Giannatti Hall, Munro St, Jarrahdale before moving on to the protest site.

I am writing to ask for  your HELP in promoting and attending a protest rally in Jarrahdale at 10am on  Sunday 28^th July. We meet at  10 am outside the Bruno Giannatti Hall, in Munro St,  Jarrahdale before moving on to the protest site.

First and foremost this is a protest against Alcoa’s plans to clear  8,323 hectares of forest in Myara North (near Jarrahdale) and Holyoake (near Dwellingup) over the next ten years. This and the impact on the ten threatened fauna species that will be affected will likely be the end of the NJF as we know it and as explained below,  now is the time to stand up and get our voices heard.

We have decided to act quickly because  Alcoa have applied for a “preliminary works” clearing permit CPS 10/626  to clear “up to 20 hectares” and announced in a community meeting a few weeks ago that they intend closing roads and restricting access to the area. They  have already taped out the work areas in the forest and the intent is to get their permit and break first ground in Myara North – despite the fact that the infrastructure and overarching proposal to clear 8,323 hectares is still under assessment by the EPA .

There will be more support from the big enviro organisations in coming days but our special  thanks for  WAFA’s Facebook Posting which is  just the beginning.  But we now also need you HELP to make this a success, You can find all the background information you want at our STOP Alcoa Page

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Can you please help us to  publicise this event by

1. Sharing the Information on Facebook. The best Facebook post so far is by WAFA and can be found here WAFA’s Facebook Posting. If you want to do your own Facebook posting feel free to use that attached jpegs. One is square the other rectangular
2. Email your member ship and supporters. Share our Stop Alcoa poster and ask them to post it in their local café, shop window or notice board (you can download from the link or just email me and ask for it). Point them to our STOP Alcoa Page to find submissions and info including..
   1. Our 3^rd party referral of the permit to the EPA
   2. A map of Alcoa’s current and future operations in the region of the permit.
   3. DWER’s report to the premier that the 2023-2027 mining plan, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act), saying that continued mining  is an unacceptable risk to biodiversity and drinking water quality.
   4. Water Corporations Report , also obtained under the FOI*Act, saying the same as above, but with more emphasis on extreme risk of contamination to Perth’s water supply emphasising an average of 28 turbidity events, and 38 drainage failure a year in the Huntly mine and  a likely cost of $2.6 billion to remediate catastrophic contamination at some time in the future.
   5. Links to Leeuwin Groups statement by 154 scientists to stop the extinction crisis  and STOP BAUXITE MINING

3. Use your local papers, radio stations, or  what ever else you can to get the word out
4. MOST of all – PLEASE RSVP via freeHumanatix ticketingHERE   ticketing  and turn up on the day.

Your presence will make a huge difference. We are planning to go to the forest protest site for a photo shoot and  are planning for large numbers and have a few alternatives to manage the event if  we can get a very large number.

*Note: Both FOI documents were obtained by award winning WA Today and Sydney Morning Herald Journalist – Peter Milne

SOME REASONS FOR PROTESTING NOW

1. This will be the first major protest against Alcoa for 45 years since building works for the Wagerup refinery commenced in 1979, and the first in- forest protest against Alcoa opposing commencement of mining works. Alcoa have given us an opportunity to protest and early and we should take it.

2. WE NEED TO PROTEST NOW WHILE WE HAVE A REASON TO STOP A MINOR WORKS CLEARING PERMIT. NOT WHEN APPROVALS ARE GIVEN AND THE BULLDOZERS ARE MOVING IN.

Alcoa intends to block off the area if the permit is approved and its one more step towards their goal to clear to open new mining areas. By acting early we avoid trespass laws etc.

3. It adds to the wider campaigns to DEFEND NATURE and STOP THE EXTINCTION CRISIS  IN THE NORTHERN JARRAH FOREST  

4. To give DEMIRS and the WA government a loud message that the public wants Alcoa’s Clearing Permit refused while the overarching proposal to clear 8,323 hectaresin the  Pinjarra Alumina Refinery Revised Proposal (Assessment number: 2253) is under assessment as required under the precautionary principle under the  EP Act. ( Sections 4A(1),37B(1) 41A(1), of the EP Act )

Thankyou and please don’t hesitate to call me personally if you have any questions.

Kind Regards

Jeff Bremer BE(Hons), PhD, FIEAust Deputy Chair – Jarrahdale Forest Protectors     Website Jarrahdale Forest Protectors  Mob  : 0416 245 115 Email: [email protected]