Have your say – Alcoa

To have your say, you are able to make a submission. Submissions on Alcoa’s proposal will be accepted until 5pm on Friday, 11 July and will be taken into account in determining this application. There is no specific submission form. A submission may take any written format you wish and submitted via email or post. Please direct enquiries and submissions to:     

Alisha Clark  
Manager Water Licencing  
srw@srw.com.au   

PO Box 153  
Maffra 3860  
Telephone 1300 139 510  

Please quote reference: AC 1818772 

Southern Rural Water will hold drop-in sessions on Thursday, 12 June at the Anglesea Bowls Club between 12pm-2:30pm and 4:30pm-6:30pm.  

The drop-in sessions are an opportunity for interested community members to ask questions around the application determination process. This is not an opportunity to provide feedback or a submission on the application, or for Southern Rural Water to comment on Alcoa’s application.  

Community members can come along at any time within the open timeframes that suit them.   

We encourage interested parties to visit Alcoa’s website to access and review the application supporting documents. Southern Rural Water is using the same materials to review Alcoa’s application. 

We seek comment from any interested person or party that considers that they are, or may be, affected by this application. Submissions on this proposal will be accepted until 5pm on Friday 11 July and will be taken into account in determining this application. 

There is no specific submission form. A submission may take any written format you wish and submitted via email or post. 

Those who submit a submission will also be invited to attend the submissions hearing where they can provide additional context to their submission. 

Please direct enquiries and submissions to:     

Alisha Clark  
Manager Water Licencing  
srw@srw.com.au   

PO Box 153  
Maffra 3860  
Telephone 1300 139 510  

Please quote reference: AC 1818772 

Southern Rural Water are legally required to provide a minimum 28 days for submissions. However, acknowledging the importance and the complexity of this application the submission period will remain open until Friday, 11 July 2025 (39 days). 

Southern Rural Water will give weight to issues raised by interested parties as they relate to section 40 matters within the Water Act 1989.  

Section 40 matters include, but are not limited to, the existing and projected availability of water, the quality of water, any adverse impacts that the water use will have on other users, any other water the applicant is entitled to, the need to protect the environment, current government policies and the purpose of which the water is to be used. 

You can view the full section 40 of the Water Act 1989 online. 

We will record your submission and send you an acknowledgment.

The submissions hearing panel (who will convene the submissions hearing) will make an initial review of the submissions noting matters of significance.

For this application, we will hold a submissions hearing. Anyone who has made a submission will be invited to attend this hearing and can speak to their submission in front of an independent hearings panel (consisting of two independent individuals).

Following the submissions hearing, the panel will deliberate on the submissions and what has been presented at the hearing and prepare a report for consideration by Southern Rural Water. 

A submissions hearing provides the opportunity for the applicant, those who have made a public a submission, and the independent technical peer review panel to provide further clarity to their submissions.  

It is not a forum to debate the issues at hand. No new information can be presented, only further clarity can be provided by those speaking at the hearing. For this application, we will be hosting the submissions hearing online.  

The information presented at this hearing is used to inform the final decision.  

The format of the meeting includes two independent facilitators who will oversee the meeting. Alcoa will be invited to present first, outlining why they need the water, for their hydrogeologist to present the technical evidence to support the application and any monitoring program that may be if relevant.

Following Alcoa, the independent technical review panel will talk through their deliberations and items that they considered in preparing a report to Southern Rural Water on the technical validity of Alcoa’s application.

Community members who have made a submission will then be invited to speak to their submission.

The independent facilitators prepare a report post the hearing and provide this to Southern Rural Water. 

Typically, we only hold submissions hearings if we receive several adverse comments. However, in the case of this application we have made the decision to hold a submission hearing regardless of the number of submissions due to the level of community interest.  

he submissions hearing is likely to be held within 4-6 weeks of the close of the consultation period. This will allow enough time to undertake an initial review of the submissions and make the necessary arrangements. 

Yes. However, only those who have made a submission will be invited to speak. 

No. All submissions, regardless of whether you attend the submissions hearing or not, will be given the same degree of consideration.

Yes. Please note, the number of submissions received holds less weight than the rigour of evidence provided and how it relates to matters under section 40 of the Water Act 1989. 

Yes, you may. However, as with the number of submissions received, weight is given to the rigour of the evidence provided and how it relates to matters under section 40 of the Water Act 1989. Please note, only one representative of a petition or community joint submission will be invited to speak at the submissions hearing. 

You have access to the complete Groundwater Impact Assessment prepared by Alcoa and submitted to Southern Rural Water as evidence to support their application. This is available via Alcoa’s website. 

Southern Rural Water initially received an application in July 2024. Following an initial assessment, Southern Rural Water requested additional information relating to matters which were identified material to the application.

Southern Rural Water requested this information in November 2024, and Alcoa provided its response in March 2025. After a further review, Southern Rural Water, together with the Independent Technical Review Panel, determined that Alcoa had provide sufficient information for the application to be deemed complete. This allows Southern Rural Water to begin its external consultation in May 2025, prior to assessing the application and making an informed decision on the outcome.  

Alcoa seeks to amend the existing groundwater licence from 4,000 megalitres a year down to 1,500 megalitres a year for a period of 10 years. This is equivalent to 600 Olympic swimming pools each year.

Alcoa seeks to use groundwater for a mine void at Camp Road, Anglesea to accelerate the filling process and support achievement of its mine rehabilitation and closure plan objectives.

Southern Rural Water has convened an independent technical peer review panel to provide independent and expert review of the technical investigations and the groundwater modelling that has been provided by Alcoa as part of their groundwater licence application.  

Alcoa has run a model as part of their application to understand the impact on the Anglesea catchment and swamp lands if they do, or do not pump groundwater over the course of the proposed 10-year water pumping application.  

The licence application includes modelling of the recovery of groundwater levels after the groundwater pumping has ceased, including if and how groundwater recovery is delayed.  

Alcoa cannot currently use any of the 4,000 ML entitlement that it currently holds for the site. In July 2024, they applied to amend their existing groundwater licence of 4,000 megalitres a year down to 1,500 megalitres a year for a period of 10 years.  

The groundwater model has been used by Alcoa to assess the impact of groundwater pumping on groundwater levels (pressures) and groundwater flow in each of the aquifers present in the Anglesea catchment. This includes the potential changes in shallow swamp aquifer groundwater levels and baseflows to rivers and creeks. This information has been used by Alcoa to assess the risk posed by groundwater pumping to groundwater users, and the environment, including the potential for increasing acid flows.  

It may depend on the number of submissions, and the timing of responses received from referral agencies, however we hope to have a decision by December 2025 or early 2026. 

Yes. Anyone whose interests may be affected by the decision can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal for a review of Southern Rural Water’s decision. An application for review must be made to the Victorian Civil and Administration Tribunal, in writing, within 28 days of the decision being made.

Southern Rural Water is responsible for regulating groundwater in southern Victoria and manages access and use of this resource through administering groundwater licences and ensuring users comply with their terms and conditions.  

Southern Rural Water is responsible for making decisions relating to water licensing. We are delegated powers by the Minister under section 306 of the Water Act 1989. 

The Water Act 1989 requires Southern Rural Water to provide sustainable and equitable access to water and balance the productive use of groundwater with the protection of high value environmental and cultural values.  

Groundwater is managed under a licensing framework within Victoria’s Water Act 1989 and we are delegated by the Minister for Water to issue licences under the Act.

When we assess an application for a take and use licence, we must consider matters under section 40 of the Water Act 1989.

These matters include: impacts on existing water uses, impacts on the environment, impacts on waterways and aquifers, existing and projected availability of water in the area, existing and projected quality of water in the area and the purposes for which the water is to be used.

We also must consider government policy, local management rules or plans, irrigation development guidelines (if they apply), submissions from the public, comments from referral agencies, advice from any panel appointed under the Act and any other matter the Minister considers relevant.  

Applicants often contact us before they submit formal applications and we provide them with guidance on the process, our duties under the Water Act 1989, what’s required of them and indicative timelines, so expectations are clear and there are no surprises. This is known as the pre-application stage.

Once we receive an application and the assessment fee, we will complete an initial review to ensure an applicant has correctly completed the form and submitted all the required information for Southern Rural Water for the application to proceed.  

For groundwater licences, we typically require a hydrogeological report that includes an impact assessment on other groundwater users, the impacts on waterways, aquifers and the environment. We also require a water use plan detailing how the groundwater will be used.

When we’ve deemed the applicant has provided all relevant technical information, we’ll then advertise the application, publish the application and supporting documents, refer the application to other local agencies and government departments and invite stakeholders and the community to provide a submission in response to the application.  

The community and agencies have a minimum of 28 days to provide a submission. In this case, we will hold a submission hearing for those who provided a submission to present their views in an open forum.  

An independent submissions panel assesses referral responses from agencies, the written public submissions and pertinent information from the submissions hearing and provides a report to Southern Rural Water.

While the public consultation is occurring, a technical review of the application is being undertaken. Following this review a report will be prepared by the independent technical peer review panel that provides a technical assessment of the application against the matters identified in section 40 of The Water Act 1989.

Southern Rural Water will then thoroughly review and consider all the application information, including the submission panel report, and independent technical review panel’s report, before deciding on the application.  

For complex applications, decisions can take around 60 days from the time we receive all the required information. However, it is difficult to determine the length of the overall process as the time it takes to obtain all the required information, and this can vary based on several factors.  

When we issue a decision outcome, it will include a statement of reasons about our decision, including any associated licence conditions.

No matter what we decide, anyone whose interests may be affected by the decision can lodge an appeal to VCAT within 28 days of the decision being made.

At a base level, an applicant must provide the volume of water they are applying for, the water source (for example the Jan Juc Groundwater Management Area) details of the land on which they plan to take and use the water, together with proof of ownership, details of the intended use of water, including application rates, together with bore location details such as location, depth and diameter.  

In addition, and dependent on the application request, a hydrogeological assessment that explores the potential impacts and risk of the water extraction on the groundwater resource, waterways, surrounding environment and other groundwater users. The level of detail required as part of these assessments is directly related to the complexity of the application. 

We have also appointed a project manager, who will be supported by the wider Southern Rural Water team, to lead on this application. This is important as it will ensure there is a dedicated resource overseeing all aspects of the process to ensure that this significant application is given the appropriate level of focus.  

This oversight also provides additional level of independence. We understand that this application is important – not just for community – but also in the broader context of mine rehabilitation.

Southern Rural Water will be supported by an independent panel of nationally and internationally respected experts from a wide range of technical fields including mine hydrogeology, groundwater modelling, geochemistry, and ecology.  

The panel’s role is to provide independent expert advice that supports our applications team as part of a robust and transparent application process. We will also be supported by a submissions panel that consists of two suitably qualified facilitators who will convene and support the submissions hearing process. This panel is yet to be appointed. 

Professor Wendy Timms 
Technical Review Panel Chair and mining hydrogeologist 

Wendy is Professor of Environmental Engineering at Deakin University and has over 30 years expertise in geology, mining hydrogeology, and environmental engineering. Wendy has worked in consulting engineering, government, research and education. 

Hugh Middlemis 
Groundwater modelling specialist 

Hugh is an Adelaide based groundwater modelling specialist with over 40 years’ experience across Australia and internationally working in consultancy. Hugh is a co-author of the Australian best practice guidelines on groundwater modelling and uncertainty analysis, and has been appointed to many expert panels.  

Lance Lloyd 
Ecology specialist 

Lance is based in Victoria and has over 30 years’ experience as an ecologist in south east Australia and overseas. His key expertise is environmental flows, ecosystem restoration and impact assessment.   

Peter Scott  
Geochemistry specialist 

Peter is a Queensland geochemist with more than 50 years of experience in managing and minimising environmental impacts from mining and coastal land development throughout the world.  Peter is a leading specialist in acid sulphate soils and acid mine drainage assessment.  

As part of the requirements under section 40 of the Water Act 1989 Southern Rural Water is required to consider the needs of other users and this includes the environment. Any links this groundwater use may have on the environment will be considered as part of Alcoa’s application.  

Under the Water Act 1989 Southern Rural Water is required to refer the application to relevant agencies with an interest in specific aspects of the application ranging from water quality, catchment and riparian health to community and cultural interests.

The referral agencies for this application are: The Environment Protection Authority, the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority, Barwon Water, Surf Coast Shire Council, Earth Resources Regulation, Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. 

Barwon Water was granted a bulk entitlement to pump groundwater from the Jan Juc Groundwater Management Area in 2009. This was the first bulk entitlement issued for groundwater in Victoria, and allows groundwater from the Lower Eastern View Formation to be used to supplement drinking water supplies when storages are low. A condition of the bulk entitlement requires a review to be undertaken within five years of recommencing groundwater extraction. A review of the entitlement was completed in 2024.  

In a public statement, Barwon Water have said that “further work will need to be undertaken to inform any changes that may be required to the bulk entitlement order, to best protect the environmental values and health of the area. If an amendment to the bulk entitlement is required, we’ll engage with the community prior to submitting an amendment application to the Minister for Water.”

The Alcoa licence application process, and any potential application by Barwon Water to amend their bulk entitlement, are separate statutory processes, however each process needs to consider potential impacts on other entitlement holders and the environment.  

For this reason, a single groundwater model was developed by Alcoa and Barwon Water to inform both processes. This ensures a consistent assessment tool.