Surf Coast Shire Council welcomes the decision by Southern Rural Water (SRW) to reject Alcoa Australia’s application to extract additional groundwater at Anglesea as a positive outcome following a strong community-led campaign.
Alcoa had applied to extract 1500 megalitres of groundwater a year for 10 years, to help fill its former mine pit.
Council made a submission to SRW and appeared before a panel hearing during 2025, reflecting the community’s concerns about the potential impacts on the Anglesea River and catchment.
“We have seen an inspiring community-led effort to oppose the application and everyone involved deserves congratulations on an excellent outcome for the Anglesea River,” Mayor Libby Stapleton said.
“The river is a place our community loves and protection of its long-term health must be an ongoing priority.
“Council was proud to stand alongside many passionate local people, given our shared concerns.”
Council’s submission reaffirmed that it did not support extraction unless it could be proven not to have a detrimental impact on the environmental and social values of the Anglesea River and/or its catchment.
Council asked SRW to consider the risks to the environment and apply the precautionary principle to determine whether the benefits would outweigh the risks to the groundwater dependent ecosystems, the Anglesea River catchment, and the security of potable water supply to the region.
Council’s submission also:
- Raised concerns the proposal did not meet the purpose of the Water Act 1989 that ‘water resources are conserved and properly managed for sustainable use for the benefit of present and future Victorians’ especially in the light of the drying conditions in the catchment.
- Raised concerns about the health of the Anglesea River and its catchment and possible causal links with Alcoa’s past groundwater extraction from the Upper Eastern View Aquifer and the risks associated with further pumping from this source.
- Urged respectful engagement with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation, noting that water extraction is identified as a very high threat to Wadawurrung Country and culture in Paleert Tjaara Dja (Wadawurrung Country Plan 2020-2030).
Alcoa ceased operations at the Anglesea Mine in 2015 and its Draft Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan proposes to fill the mine pit with water.
Alcoa’s proposal was to use groundwater to fill the mine pit in seven to 10 years. An alternative strategy is a natural fill over a period of 26 years.
Council’s full submission to the process can be read in the 22 July 2025 Council Meeting minutes.
Southern Rural Water has published a Statement of Reasons for the decision, as well as technical and public submission reports, on its website.