Significant win in the campaign to protect the Kimberley – major bauxite miner pulls out.

Norwegian-owned aluminium corporation Norsk-Hydro confirmed at a meeting with the Wilderness Society on 12 November 2009 that it will not be pursuing plans for bauxite mining in the Mitchell Plateau region of the north Kimberley, and has returned its mining leases to the State Government.

The Wilderness Society welcomed the decision, saying that other mining companies holding bauxite leases in the north Kimberley should follow the responsible lead of Norsk Hydro.

Mertens falls, Mitchell Plateau. Photo: Jiri Lochman. Copyright: Lochman Transparencies

We would like to thank the thousands of members and supporters who sent letters to the company, which we delivered for them. This is a great outcome and all of our supporters should be proud of their contribution to this important decision.

The North Kimberley / Mitchell plateau region is a last refuge for wildlife and an understudied region where new species are being discovered all the time, as evidenced by the recent release of survey data identifying dozens of new plant species.

The Wilderness Society’s Kimberley Campaigner, Josh Coates said, “We congratulate Norsk Hydro on their decision to terminate their joint venture project and return the bauxite leases to the State Government.”

“The State Government should now announce that these leases will not be given to another company, and that the entire Mitchell Plateau region will be considered for protection in conservation tenure instead.”

“The rugged and breathtakingly beautiful north Kimberley region, including the Mitchell Plateau, is one of the world's last great wild places – and one of the only places in Australia with NO recorded species extinctions since European settlement. New species are being found in this region all the time and it is a last refuge for many rare animals, It is far too important and valuable to be strip mined for bauxite.”

Norsk Hydro Project Director Wenche Agerup said "Hydro has together with UMC decided to terminate the Kimberley bauxite and alumina joint venture and the joint venture have surrendered and relinquished the exploration tenements in the Mitchell plateau region of the North Kimberley."

UMC/Norsk Hydro Joint venture bauxite tenements - CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE

"This decision has been taken based on a number of considerations, among other things the current lack of knowledge and scientific documentation relating to the environmental values of the region. We support the present process of establishing a better documentation. Development decisions in this region should in our view be taken in the context of a comprehensive development plan for the Kimberley."

The Wilderness Society has been calling for a comprehensive conservation and compatible development plan for the area as part of our alternative vision for the region based on our WildCountry principles and we warmly welcome these comments from the Norwegian company.

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