Mining company Telupac has applied for seven exploration licences putting WA’s unique Jarrah forests at risk. WA Mines Minister, David Michael, has the power to refuse Telupac’s application – but he needs to act now.
Combined, the tenements cover 126,796ha of the Northern Jarrah Forest. WAFA have objected to three in the Mining Warden’s Court alongside other community groups and are also applying to the Minister for Mines to refuse the tenements.
WA Forest Alliance (WAFA) has objected to the grant of three of tenements – E70/6456, E70/6457, and E70/6458, which cover 60,351 hectares of the Northern Jarrah Forest, and is concerned also about the other four Telupac licences covering a further 66,435 hectares.
These high conservation value forests should not be destroyed by mining. Instead they must be safeguarded in protected areas to ensure that their water, climate, cultural and ecological values are conserved into the future.
WAFA has objected on the following grounds:
- Any awarding of the tenements with standard conditions attached would be inadequate in light of the potential environmental impacts and importance of the Northern Jarrah Forest.
- It goes against the public interest for tenements to be granted in places of such significant biodiversity, water, land and soils, and cultural values.
- Given the location of the tenements, the potential environmental impacts and associated requirements of any applied conditions (such as an Environmental Impact Assessment process, water licencing requirements or Aboriginal Heritage requirements), Telupac will not be able to effectively explore the land.
In addition to its objection in the Mining Warden’s Court, WAFA is preparing an application to the Honourable David Michael MLA, Minister for Mines and Petroleum, asking that the Minister refuse the tenements, using the Minister’s powers under section 111A of the Mining Act.’
But we need your help!
If the Minister exercises his discretion to refuse the tenements, WAFA will avoid the need for its objections to be determined by a Mining Warden at a hearing.
WAFA requests your assistance with its application to the Minister. If you are opposed to the grant of the tenements, please show your support by signing this online petition.
We request that you please show your support and sign the petition by no later than 20 April 2025.
