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Destinations > Paradise Lost?
Paradise Lost?
Woodside is a different matter. It's shortlisted locations on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome, the north Kimberley coast and on Scott Reef, 450km north of Broome, for a plant with a capacity of 14mtpa, although it does have an economically viable, though obviously more expensive, option of piping to its existing plant at Karratha.
However, two new gas discoveries are emerging: the Conoco/Phillips/Karoon gas field near Scott Reef and the Shell/Nexus Echuca Shoals/Crux fields east of the Inpex discovery in the Browse Basin. This should make things even more interesting (and even harder to oppose).
At the moment, Woodside is in negotiation with the Kimberley Land Council, which is at present in favour of the 'development'. KLC CEO Wayne Bergmann, a Perth-trained lawyer born in the Kimberley, is articulate, intelligent and idealistic. Rather than view the gas project as purely a 'royalty grab', he wants the considerable money involved going to traditional owners to be used in setting up businesses and infrastructure to support Aboriginal people in an ongoing sense - long after the gas reserves have dwindled out. The KLC has spoken repeatedly to Aboriginal groups in the Pilbara who have suffered as a consequence of increased mining activities, despite getting healthy royalties, and is determined not to make the same mistakes as they did in formulating agreements. Wayne is arguing for Aboriginal equity in the project (in other words, representation on the Board of Woodside) but the recent State elections have dealt him a bitter blow. Where the previous Labour Government had given the KLC ultimate right of veto over the project, newly elected Liberal Premier Colin Barrett has rescinded that right, arguing (legalistically, quite correctly, but potentially disastrously for those who don't want development to go ahead) that no citizen, white, black or brindle, has the right of rebuttal where mining operations are concerned. (If gold or whatever was discovered in your backyard and someone took out a Miner's Right, you're out boyo -compensated, but out all the same!) Wayne has lost his negotiating ace. Both the WA and Federal Governments stand to make huge tax revenues if everything goes ahead by the way, and in September, Federal Shadow Minister for Energy & Resources Ian Macfarlane announced his approval of the LNG projects. (Should you wish to contact him, his e-mail address is: Ian.Macfarlane.MP@aph.gov.au)
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The Save The Kimberley group is an independent organisation dedicated to educating the Australian and international community to the threat posed by multi-million dollar gas and large scale industrial development in the Kimberley, wanting to make sure the Kimberley is protected for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Kimberley abalone diver STK spokesman Peter Tucker sums it up when he says: "There need to be some areas of the world that should just be left; we're doing enough damage to the country as it is!" He also points out that much of the Kimberley coastline is largely unexplored; that very little scientific investigation has been undertaken in either floral or faunal areas. "Who knows what might be out there?" he asks.
Not surprisingly, long-time Broome resident Malcolm Douglas is also up in arms about the proposals, and wants the Kimberley World Heritage listed, despite some of the ramifications in terms of public access that may result. "The Kimberley is as unique as Antarctica, and no-one's allowed to go mining there," he says. "The Kimberley has the last pristine, untouched savannah woodlands in the world - it's very different and very special...wilderness areas are going to be worth more than industrialisation in 100 years' time, so we must maintain them for future generations."
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However, two new gas discoveries are emerging: the Conoco/Phillips/Karoon gas field near Scott Reef and the Shell/Nexus Echuca Shoals/Crux fields east of the Inpex discovery in the Browse Basin. This should make things even more interesting (and even harder to oppose).
At the moment, Woodside is in negotiation with the Kimberley Land Council, which is at present in favour of the 'development'. KLC CEO Wayne Bergmann, a Perth-trained lawyer born in the Kimberley, is articulate, intelligent and idealistic. Rather than view the gas project as purely a 'royalty grab', he wants the considerable money involved going to traditional owners to be used in setting up businesses and infrastructure to support Aboriginal people in an ongoing sense - long after the gas reserves have dwindled out. The KLC has spoken repeatedly to Aboriginal groups in the Pilbara who have suffered as a consequence of increased mining activities, despite getting healthy royalties, and is determined not to make the same mistakes as they did in formulating agreements. Wayne is arguing for Aboriginal equity in the project (in other words, representation on the Board of Woodside) but the recent State elections have dealt him a bitter blow. Where the previous Labour Government had given the KLC ultimate right of veto over the project, newly elected Liberal Premier Colin Barrett has rescinded that right, arguing (legalistically, quite correctly, but potentially disastrously for those who don't want development to go ahead) that no citizen, white, black or brindle, has the right of rebuttal where mining operations are concerned. (If gold or whatever was discovered in your backyard and someone took out a Miner's Right, you're out boyo -compensated, but out all the same!) Wayne has lost his negotiating ace. Both the WA and Federal Governments stand to make huge tax revenues if everything goes ahead by the way, and in September, Federal Shadow Minister for Energy & Resources Ian Macfarlane announced his approval of the LNG projects. (Should you wish to contact him, his e-mail address is: Ian.Macfarlane.MP@aph.gov.au)
read on below advertisement
The Save The Kimberley group is an independent organisation dedicated to educating the Australian and international community to the threat posed by multi-million dollar gas and large scale industrial development in the Kimberley, wanting to make sure the Kimberley is protected for the enjoyment of current and future generations. Kimberley abalone diver STK spokesman Peter Tucker sums it up when he says: "There need to be some areas of the world that should just be left; we're doing enough damage to the country as it is!" He also points out that much of the Kimberley coastline is largely unexplored; that very little scientific investigation has been undertaken in either floral or faunal areas. "Who knows what might be out there?" he asks.
Not surprisingly, long-time Broome resident Malcolm Douglas is also up in arms about the proposals, and wants the Kimberley World Heritage listed, despite some of the ramifications in terms of public access that may result. "The Kimberley is as unique as Antarctica, and no-one's allowed to go mining there," he says. "The Kimberley has the last pristine, untouched savannah woodlands in the world - it's very different and very special...wilderness areas are going to be worth more than industrialisation in 100 years' time, so we must maintain them for future generations."
next page »
