The Dwellingup Discovery Forest
The Dwellingup Discovery Forest is a mostly forested area surrounding the town of Dwellingup and includes areas of Lane Poole reserve and a National Park. The forest is at risk of being cleared for bauxite mining operations and for new exploration by multiple mining companies.
In what way is the forest under threat?
The Northern Jarrah Forest is mined for bauxite, an ore that is used to produce aluminium via the processes of refining and smelting.
Mining begins with the clearing of the forest. The commercial timber is logged and the remaining vegetation is stacked into rows and burnt.
Rows of residue forest and vegetation is burnt.
Top soil is removed and a hard layer of bauxite called caprock is drilled and blasted to access and extract up to 4m of the ore below.
Up to 50% of the forest is cleared for mining and infrastructure within the mining area.
The forest cockatoos will be forced to travel further afield for nesting hollows and food as the mine expands so quickly.
Rehabilitation
After mining, Alcoa is required to rehabilitate the forest. Rehabilitation has failed in areas of the forest with these areas not meeting the completion criteria.
Failed 20-year rehabilitation
Rio Tinto exploration plans
Rio Tinto applied for exploration licenses across 10 areas within the northern jarrah forest. This included a large area around Dwellingup. Conservation groups, local governments and concerned individuals objected to the applications via a legal process.
In a win for the forests, Rio Tinto withdrew their exploration plans.
Six Zones and their Key Values
Scarp Pool
Zone 1
Water and Forest Conservation Zone
This zone captures Dwellingup’s past water supply protection area and the local governments Intensive Agricultural Zone critically important for agriculture including Agro-Tourism into the future. In this zone Scarp Poole Recreation area and Christ Church School Outdoor Environmental Education Facility is located. There are very high conservation value forests proposed to become National Park in the south and proposed Conservation Parks in the north , both of which include old growth forest with connectivity of valuable vegetation complexes in-between.
Island Pool- Lane Poole Reserve
Zone 2
Recreation Zone
Including Dwellingup, trails and Lane Poole Reserve. This zone has for a number of years been identified as the connection between Turner Hill Mountain Bike network through Dwellingup to Nanga particularly for annual events. This zone covers the lower conservation value areas. Fortunately, the Murray River remains one of the few unharnessed rivers of the State giving it the values for canoeing and other water sports as well as Nanga Town Site camping, Day use, Trees Adventure activities and a range of Educational Facilities established including Nanga Bush camp, Icy creek, and the Scotch, Trinity and other secondary school properties and their facilities in this zone.
Forest Red-tailed Black Cockatoo
Zone 3
Wildlife protection Zone
In the Heart of the Discovery Forest is the fauna Protection Zone which includes two DBCA Fauna Habitat Protection Zones and this is also an important corridor which links the Proposed National Park to the south with South Dandalup Dam through the Drinking Water protection zone.
Water Authority signage
Zone 4
Drinking Water Protection Zone
This zone protects the drinking water of the South Dandalup Dam. It should remain with restricted controlled access as this drinking water is both for Dwellingup and the Perth Metropolitan area. Continued controlled access is appropriate and could eventually be managed along with the controlled access of the Wilderness Zone in the Quarantine area. It also includes two important DBCA Fauna Habitat Protection areas.
Shield Tree
Zone 5
Murray Basin Wilderness Zone
The Murray River Basin Wilderness Zone is within the controlled access Forest Quarantine area (Disease Risk Area). Bauxite mining is proposed within this zone and a small portion of the Drinking Water Protection Zone. Numerous shield trees for navigational purposes and the controlled access nature of the area to protect valuable forest and drinking water from inappropriate activities gives this area uniqueness and complements the other values captured by the other 5 zones. These shield trees are valuable with approved access for orienteering or expedition skills courses such as have been run out of Pemberton and the surrounding forests there. The area includes a DBCA Fauna Habitat Protection Zone. This area has minimal disturbance historically and functions as a corridor for wildlife between the South Dandalup Dam and the Proposed National Park area of the Lane Poole Reserve immediately to the south of the Wilderness area.
Bibbulmun Track Signage
Zone 6
Timber Townsites Heritage Zone
This zone includes a rich history of mill town developments including Chadora, Plavins, Amphion, Inglehope, and others. Inglehope is still a bustling hamlet, with numerous permanent residents, a Fauna Habitat Protection Zone, part of the Bibbulmun Track and the Inglehope Arboretum. The Arboretum is a popular day use area with a walk trail, which when combined with the Bibbulmun takes, you to historic timber harvesting plots back to before the 1920,s.
Forest Products Commission
Harvesting activities are currently taking place in and around the Discovery Forest by the Forest Products Commission (FPC).
FPC’s link to Alcoa Operations
The FPC’s forest management area includes Alcoa’s Pre-mining activities and post-mining rehabilitation. Pre-mining activity includes salvage operations and the recovery of forest products prior to commencement of mining activities. Post-mining rehabilitation includes the recovery of forest products as part of thinning operations, associated with improvements in hydrology, fire management and forest health.*
These sites will remain within the DFA to enable the recovery and utilisation of forest products that would otherwise be wasted as a result of mining activities. This will also enable independent third-party verification of the rehabilitation until the Completion Criteria meets the required standard and the mine site is formerly handed back to the DBCA.*
*Sustainable Forest Management Framework - Native forest and plantations Version control: V07/ November 2020
Alcoa’s mining lease granted in 1961 allows them to mine in the Northern Jarrah Forest until 2045 with the option to extend.
What will be left in 2045?
Dwellingup Discovery Forest UNDER THREAT
Zones 4 and 5 of the Dwellingup Discovery Forest are under imminent threat of Bauxite Mining by ALCOA.
Bauxite Mining
The Dwellingup Discovery Forest lies in the Darling Ranges which is currently being mined for Bauxite.
Aluminium company Alcoa of Australia operates two mines in the Darling Ranges: Huntly and Willowdale.
The Huntly Bauxite mine is the world’s second largest bauxite mine and it is on a path to encroach upon the Dwellingup Discovery Forest as it expands its operations.
The government forest survey
This video draws attention to a government initiated survey that was open to all Australians until August 1st 2021. The survey results will help inform a soon-to-be-revised Forest Management Plan which is revised every 10 years.. That plan will determine the fate of 850,000 hectares of native forests, including the Dwellingup Discovery Forest.
Link to the survey
Link to a guide on how to complete the survey