About the Project

Since 1963 Alcoa has been an integral part of the Geelong community, operating an aluminium smelter and rolling mill on the Point Henry peninsula for five decades.

Following the closure of smelting and rolling operations in 2014, Alcoa began to decommission and rehabilitate the site with a view to establish a suitable long-term plan for its future use.

The complex project is managed by Alcoa’s local team and backed by the company’s global project and asset management group. Together, experts in environmental remediation, facility decommissioning, project management and community engagement ensure health, safety and protection of the environment underpin every activity associated with the project.

The project includes three tiers:

Decommissioning
Environmental management
Future Land Planning

Future Land Planning

Located on the Point Henry peninsula, Alcoa’s freehold land totals approximately 575 hectares. The area comprises the former industrial site (approximately 75 hectares), former saltpans, wetlands, farmland and grasslands.

An opportunity now exists for these landholdings to help reshape the region’s future. Transitioning the land from its former industrial use to a sustainable community and tourist destination could greatly assist Geelong. It will demonstrating leading practice in contemporary urban development and significantly contribute to the future growth of the city.

The Point Henry 575 Concept Master Plan outlines the potential future uses of Alcoa’s landholdings and is informed by broad community engagement undertaken by Alcoa since December 2015.

Following a draft released for community feedback in 2016, Alcoa published the updated Point Henry 575 Concept Master Plan in September 2017. The plan guides the possible future transition of Alcoa’s landholdings over a 20 to 30-year period and unlocks the Point Henry peninsula by connecting Geelong to:

A new coastal destination
Point Henry’s unique landscapes
A diverse range of sustainable living opportunities.

It has the potential to generate an estimated $3.5 billion expenditure, 4000 construction jobs and 1000 ongoing jobs over a 20 to 30-year period.

Alcoa is tremendously proud of its contribution to the Geelong region over more than five decades and looks forward to Point Henry 575 making a significant contribution to the region’s future.

The plan was submitted to the Victorian Government’s Department of Environment Land Water and Planning's Moolap Coastal Strategic Framework Plan process in 2017.

Environmental Management

Protecting and preserving the environment is core to our values and drives our commitment to the highest standards of environmental performance.

We aim to exceed corporate and community expectations relating to environmental management and we work collaboratively with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Victoria and other stakeholders to meet these standards.

Working in accordance with the site remediation action plans approved by the EPA appointed Auditor, and in line with EPA Clean Up Notice 90009457, our remediation work is progressing.

An independent environmental auditor is assessing the processes undertaken to remediate the site and provides independent reports to the EPA. Alcoa is also required to provide written updates to the EPA on soil and groundwater assessment activities. You can view these updates here.

Importantly, to date Alcoa and the EPA appointed Auditor have not identified any unacceptable risks to human health or the environment.

Decommissioning

Decommissioning of the site was completed in 2021 and is an important milestone towards turning Point Henry into a valuable community asset for current and future generations.

The water tower and one building remain on the former industrial site for potential future use, as outlined in the Point Henry 575 Concept Master Plan. Alcoa also owns the historically significant signal station, which is currently being leased to the Victorian Regional Channels Authority.

Point Henry 575 Concept Master Plan Cover