Julimar State Forest and the surrounding area are under threat of vegetation clearing and groundwater loss.
This is a call to action.
Chalice Mining have submitted an amended proposal document to the EPA and we only have until 5 November to make a comment. This is a time to make your voice count.
The document links, submission details and more guidelines are found here: epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/gonneville-nickel-copper-platinum-group-element-pge-project-change-proposal-under-s43a
Click the ‘3. Assessment’ link down the bottom of the page to reveal the Scoping dropdown and the documents.
The larger Supporting Document provides a lot more detail (see appendix 1 for summary), but if you only have a short time, the smaller Proposal Content document is a summary of the proposed changes.
We have outlined our concerns about the amendments below to help you write your response. You will also find a link in the comments to further guidelines created by our friends at Protect Our Valley – Chittering and Avon & Hills Mining Awareness Group Inc.
The key changes for the Toodyay and Julimar State Forest area are:
An increase in clearing around the site access roads of Keating and Plunkett from 3ha to 18ha.
The original Referral included two Site Access Roads within the IDE, aligned with the existing Keating Road and Plunkett Road, both off Julimar Road. The referred Site Access Roads involved clearing of no more than 3 ha of remnant native vegetation within an IDE of 52 ha within Julimar State Forest.
This clearing looks to be primarily around Keating Road, but does not rule out Plunkett.
Impacts on fauna: During a recent survey, we confirmed Carnaby’s Black-cockatoos in this area. Carnaby’s are currently listed as endangered but are not mentioned as found in this area in the Chalice document. The additional clearing would take out jarrah, marri and wandoo trees, all of which are in the vicinity and provide vital habitat and food for these birds as well as the many others. The impact has indirect consequences where vegetation that isn’t cleared is damaged by heavy machinery, for example, damaged tree roots. Dieback can also be brought in by machinery.
Chuditch and critically endangered Woylie are found in Julimar State Forest, and any habitat loss will also affect them and all other wildlife in the vicinity and nearby as the mine encroaches further and further into the forest.
Impacts on flora: In addition to rich biodiversity in the area, both Keating and Plunkett have aesthetic and tourism value as they are recognised Flora Roads. Endangered and priority species are located within the forest. The threatened Thelymitra Stellata (Star Orchid) has been found in the southern part of Julimar Forest, for example.
Chalice states that the proposed amendments are expected to result in a decrease in impacts to flora and vegetation and to terrestrial fauna. For Julimar State Forest, this is not the case. The increase in clearing increases the impact.
Julimar Road: The proposal mentions the need for upgrading local roads, but on the map, Julimar Road is not marked. We query how the increase in clearing along Keating and Plunkett wouldn’t affect Julimar Road.
An almost doubling of the groundwater abstraction from .45 GL/yr to .85 GL/yr for the construction of the mine.
The Referral included groundwater abstraction within the MDE of up to 0.45 gigalitres per year (GL/yr), for construction purposes only. Since referral, Chalice has carried out further groundwater investigations within the MDE, including drilling to identify productive zones and potential construction supply bores. The drilling identified greater groundwater availability than was understood at referral.
In a response to community concerns in 2025, Chalice stated that no groundwater will be extracted at Gonneville for mining operations. The distinction here is construction vs operations. The construction will, as stated, use up to .85 GL/yr of groundwater.
Groundwater abstraction poses a threat to the groundwater-dependent ecosystems and increases the risk of vegetation stress and death. Julimar State Forest abuts the proposed mine site. In our drying climate and reduced rainfall record over the last 30 years in this area, groundwater is vital to the health of Julimar State Forest.
For a community heavily reliant on local bores and aquifers, this represents a massive threat to the local hydrological balance, risk of drawing down local water tables, and potential long-term risks like acid mine drainage.
For further guidelines created by our friends at Protect Our Valley – Chittering and Avon & Hills Mining Awareness Group Inc., please follow this link: gonnevillebegone.com/epa-submission-help
The link to make your submission is: consultation.epa.wa.gov.au/open-for-submissions/gonneville-pge-s-43a/
Submissions close on Nov 5!
Please take a moment; Julimar State Forest needs your support!
