The Shire of Mingenew is calling on the Environmental Protection Authority to pause its assessment of Karara Mining’s mine life extension bid amid worries it “doesn’t pass the pub test”.

The shire is opposing Karara’s project expansion proposal with significant concerns about its impact on crucial groundwater resources in the region.

The mining company is looking to extend the lifespan of its iron ore mine about 225km south-east of Geraldton from 25 to 46 years.

Whilst the mine is not located in the Shire of Mingenew, Karara does have three bores in Yandanooka and a pipeline that are crucial for mine operations.

In 2011, the mine was given approval to draw 92 per cent of water from a key groundwater resource in the Mid West — the Parmelia aquifer of the Mingenew subarea.

This licence was set to expire in November 2027, however, the miner was given further approval last year to draw another one billion litres from the aquifer until 2035.

Shire of Mingenew president Hellene McTaggart said the mine being able to access such a valuable resource was a great community concern.

“Groundwater is really allocated to the highest priority needs and we are very aware that the environmental impacts of that groundwater are probably very different in terms of the development pipeline for this region,” she said.

“In terms of the water licence, we just don’t think it can be divorced from the environmental protection or environmental process because it is a significant natural asset in our region.”

At a council meeting on May 20, Cr McTaggart moved a motion to call for a pause on the EPA’s assessment of Karara’s application.

The motion was approved by majority council members, with plans set to ask the EPA to undertake a full assessment of the groundwater.

Karara first put forward its mine life extension proposal to the EPA in 2022, however amended its proposal at the end of April this year.

The extension first proposed an extension of 40 years, which was recently amended to 46.

The EPA approved the amendments to the application on April 29.

The EPA stated that despite allowing for Karara Mining to make amendments to its proposal, the proposal itself was still before the EPA for assessment.

Cr McTaggart said though the groundwater was not owned by the people of Mingenew or people of the region, it belonged to all Australians and should be protected.

“We feel as a community, and what we’re hearing in the region, is that there are concerns about the future of water supplies for rural towns and drinking water supply,” she said.

She noted Mingenew had had a long history of communications with Karara and there were significantly diverse views among the community about the initial water allocation and licence.

“There is a large proportion of our community and shire which have historically been very vocal of not being in favour about that water being taken out of the community and being utilised, essentially, for washing rocks,” she said.

Given the aquifer is of very high quality and a potable water source, Cr McTaggart said she was hopeful the EPA would consider the shire’s submission and make an appropriate decision in terms of the water and mining extension proposal.