Greens MLC Robin Chapple congratulates the Western Australian Government on its finalisation and release of the boundaries for the Camden Sound Marine Park, which provides protection for the northern section of the Kimberley humpback whale nursery. The Marine Park includes the largest sanctuary zone in WA waters.
“The announcement of the Marine Park is a step in the right direction for many of Western Australia’s threatened marine species. It shows significant foresight by this Government in the management of our natural environment and acknowledges the Kimberley as an area of high conservation value”, Mr Chapple said.
But this level of protection, while a positive step, still leaves the sustainability of marine life vulnerable to the industrialisation of the Kimberley.
“With Bauxite mining planned for Mitchell Falls; Uranium for Oobagooma; Copper for the Horizontal Waterfalls; the development of new ports and mines at Point Torment and the Woodside gas hub at James Price Point, we must not lose sight of the fact that our natural environment in the Kimberley could be irrevocably changed over the coming years, and the effect on our wildlife is as yet unknown”, Mr Chapple said.
“Our hope now is that the State Government will continue to demonstrate its commitment to the conservation of our marine wildlife by extending the areas under marine protection to include the Buccaneer Archipelago, Dugong and Talbot Bays and the Horizontal Waterfalls. This would truly signal a commitment to ensuring our natural heritage is retained for the benefit of future generations, and show that this Government can balance development and conservation without losing sight of the bigger picture”.
Greens MLC Robin Chapple said that Woodside’s decision to sell $1bn of the Browse LNG project was an opportunity for the company, its partners and prospective buyers to find a better location for the gas hub.
“Woodside’s decision for a $1 billion-plus auction of most of its 50 per cent stake in the Browse gas project is a tremendous reprieve for the ecological and cultural integrity of the Kimberley and a great opportunity for the Joint Venture partners to re-assess the location of the project”, Mr Chapple said.
“There are locations along our vast coastline that are less environmentally and culturally significant than James Price Point – which the Browse JV partners are very much aware of.”
“It is common knowledge that the James Price Point site was not the preferred location for several of the partners.”
“Woodside’s financial woes represents a chance for the partners and potential purchasers to more fully assess the huge social, heritage, and environmental impacts of a gas hub on the current site, as highlighted by the committed West Kimberley community who have opposed this project from the start.”
“I am fully confident that a comprehensive examination of the impacts of a gas hub at James Price Point would render an alternative site the more attractive option.”
Mr Chapple said that in any re-assessment of the Browse project, the Greens would demand that fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from the project – estimated to be up to 8 million tonnes per annum – be taken into account.
“The EPA and the Federal government must account for the massive carbon footprint of this project, and its impact on the State’s emissions targets to 2020 and beyond ahead of any final approval for gas processing”, Mr Chapple said.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263
Greens MLC Robin Chapple said that Woodside’s decision to delay its final investment decision on the Browse LNG project was an opportunity for the company and its partners to find a better location for the gas hub.
“Woodside’s decision to delay a final decision on Browse is a tremendous reprieve for the ecological and cultural integrity of the Kimberley and a great opportunity for the Joint Venture partners to re-assess the location of the project”, Mr. Chapple said.
“There are locations along our vast coastline that are less environmentally and culturally significant than James Price Point – which the Browse JV partners are very much aware of.”
“It is common knowledge that the James Price Point site was not the preferred location for several of the partners.”
“Woodside’s reluctance to commit to its current site represents a chance for the partners to more fully assess the huge social, heritage, and environmental impacts of a gas hub on the current site, as highlighted by the committed West Kimberley community who have opposed this project from the start.”
“I am fully confident that a comprehensive examination of the impacts of a gas hub at James Price Point would render an alternative site the more attractive option.”
Mr. Chapple said that in any re-assessment of the Browse project, the Greens would demand that fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from the project – estimated to be up to 8 million tonnes per annum – be taken into account.
“The EPA must account for the massive carbon footprint of this project, and its impact on the State’s emissions targets to 2020 and beyond ahead of any final approval for a future gas hub”, Mr. Chapple said.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255
Greens MP Robin Chapple called on the state government to take this opportunity to halt the gas development James Price Point.
The Supreme Court this morning declared the government’s notices to take land at James Price Point invalid. The notices are invalid because they didn’t actually set out what land was going to be taken.
“This is an example of the Barnett/Grylls government rushing to issue the notices to take land, ignoring basic legal principles, in an effort to force an agreement from Traditional Owners.
“The Chief Justice held that “there was some force” to the argument that the Government’s approach was patronizing – as the Government had argued it was OK to issue a vague notice to take remote Aboriginal lands, but accepted that a notice to take land in the city would need to be properly detailed.
“This government is not a law unto itself – the Barnett/Grylls attitude of development at full speed and any cost must stop.
“Barnett should dismiss Lands Minister Grylls for this appalling process, or take full responsibility himself.
“There must be a complete halt of works at James Price Point. I call on the government to take this opportunity to back away from the unpopular James Price Point Gas hub, concluded Mr Chapple, Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region.
For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255
