Karara Mining Limited is currently requesting authorization from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to prolong its magnetite ore mining activities in Western Australia’s Midwest region until 2048.
Hellene McTaggart, the President of the Mingenew Shire, has expressed apprehension regarding the potential implications of this 15-year extension on local water security. The Mingenew Shire has formally urged the EPA to halt its evaluation to conduct a more comprehensive assessment of the effects on groundwater resources.
The proposed extension of the magnetite ore mine has raised concerns among the shires in Western Australia’s Midwest, particularly regarding access to a crucial aquifer. Karara Mining’s operations, located in the Shire of Perenjori approximately 340 kilometers northeast of Perth, have faced scrutiny since they were initially granted permission in 2011 to extract 92 percent of the region’s local groundwater from a section of the Parmelia Aquifer.
Currently, the Mingenew Shire is advocating for the EPA to take a pause in its review of the proposed 15-year extension to better assess the implications for water security.
Karara holds a license that allows the extraction of five out of 5.4 gigalitres available from Mingenew’s portion of the Parmelia Aquifer, which is a vital potable water source for the local community. McTaggart noted that there was significant community concern when Karara was first authorized to access such a large quantity of groundwater in 2011. “It’s incredibly high-quality water,” she remarked, adding that it is one of the few drinkable groundwater supplies in the area.
Despite the expiration of its current license in 2027, Karara received approval last year to access an additional gigalitre, or 1 billion litres, of groundwater from the Yandanooka bore field until 2035. McTaggart expressed her worries about water licensing arrangements, stating, “We are very concerned that such an important natural asset is not being considered in the full environmental impact.” She emphasized that water licensing should not be treated in isolation from the broader environmental assessments, which is why her shire has requested a pause on the EPA’s evaluation of Karara’s extension.
Karen Chappel, the President of the neighboring Morawa Shire, echoed these concerns, highlighting that water security has been a pressing issue for local governments in the Midwest for the past two decades. She pointed out that the advent of mining activities and the associated licensing have made small towns increasingly vulnerable. “Karara takes an awful lot of water that’s allocated for mining, and it doesn’t leave a lot of wriggle room for communities or for towns and farms,” she stated.
While local councils often aim to attract large-scale projects, Chappel noted that there remains a cautious approach. “We welcome industry, but we also have to remember that water is a finite resource,” she said, indicating that some communities rely on different aquifers for their water supply. This concern about the impact of water licensing on community resources is prevalent among smaller local governments.
A representative from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) explained that water licenses are evaluated based on various criteria. They assured that DWER would review and modify licenses as necessary to ensure sustainable resource management that aligns with government and community expectations. The spokesperson acknowledged that while the licensing process operates under a distinct legislative framework from that of the EPA, both processes must consider the environmental impacts of water extraction. “Both regulatory processes have a role to consider potential impacts and management associated with water extraction,” they noted, adding that the EPA may seek technical advice from DWER regarding water resource regulation.
Karara Mining Limited has not yet responded to inquiries about its water licensing agreements and the concerns raised by the community.
