Locals are hopeful a $13 billion US-Australia critical minerals deal set to build a new gallium refinery south of Perth will boost jobs and revitalise towns, but green groups are concerned about the environmental impacts of processing on shore.

The Waroona community is one of the first to be involved in the new bilateral deal, which is aimed at breaking China's near-monopoly on the world's supply of critical minerals.

As part of the deal, US and Australian governments will fund a new gallium refinery at Wagerup, 120 kilometres south of Perth, which will be co-located at US mining giant Alcoa's existing alumina refinery.

Gallium is a little-known critical mineral prized by the US military-industrial complex, and has become the talk of the town in Waroona since the announcement.

Bernie W

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