EPA Kimberley report raises serious questions

The Australian Conservation Foundation has today cautiously welcomed the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority’s recommendations to the WA Environment Minister on Woodside’s proposal for a gas processing precinct at James Price Point, but said serious questions remain unanswered.

ACF has raised concerns about the process by which the report was released and questioned some of the department’s approval conditions.

“Conditional approval is a long way from approval,” said ACF’s Kimberley project officer Wade Freeman.

“Each of the EPA’s 29 conditions means more time, expense and uncertainty about this project being located at James Prices Point.

“It is very unusual and unorthodox for this report – about one of the most significant and controversial industrial projects in Australia – to have been presented by just one person, EPA committee Chair Paul Vogel, after four other EPA board members had to stand aside due to conflicts of interest.

“One of the key conditions for EPA approval of the project – that the gas precinct should not cross the shore within 900 metres of James Price Point to safeguard fossilised dinosaur footprints – seems completely unworkable as the dinosaur footprints run the entire length of the Dampier Peninsula.

“Heritage listed dinosaur tracks, vulnerable bilbies, endangered turtle nesting sites and whale calving grounds all add up to make processing the gas in the Pilbara a better option.”