The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has slammed the Federal Government’s decision to extend the life of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant until 2070, saying it opens up the very real potential for drilling around the pristine Scott Reef off WA’s north west coast.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts labelled the North West Shelf as “the oldest, dirtiest gas plant in Australia”, which has already destroyed thousands of pieces of ancient First Nations rock art during construction and produced billions of tonnes of pollution.
“Minister Watt has got it wrong on the NWS but he needs to get it right on Browse – opening up the Browse basin would devastate one of Australia’s most pristine reef systems and erode any chance we have of reducing our emissions,” Mr Roberts said.
“Labor was elected with a clear mandate to take action on climate, this decision is deeply disappointing and flies in the face of Australian voters’ demands for strong action on climate.”
Mr Roberts said the extension of the North West Shelf was the centrepiece of Woodside’s Burrup Hub operations, opening up widespread industrialisation of WA’s oceans and iconic Pilbara and Kimberley landscapes.
“The North West Shelf extension is a decision that has far reaching impacts – it creates demand for new gas projects like Browse which threatens precious reef systems like Scott Reef and would emit an additional 1.6 billion tonnes of GhG emissions over 50 years. Australia is not on track to meet our Paris targets and WA’s emissions continue to rise. We are sleepwalking into climate disaster.
“The government must endeavour to make a real difference in this term. They cannot keep approving polluting projects for the benefit of shareholders and pretend they are serious about taking action on climate and the environment. This decision does not bode well for their legacy.
"We know that people are angry – both our partners in the protection of environment, nature and culture, along with everyday West Australians who clearly understand the massive risks posed by ongoing operations at the North West Shelf and in the Browse Basin.
“Just this week we saw Rock Art expert Benjamin Smith call the MRAMP report into question – with several scientists from the project also raising concerns. The UNESCO heritage listing for the Murujuga rock art is at risk because of Woodside’s plant. It is irresponsible that this approval has been made while these concerns are still outstanding.
“People realise that the future of our climate, incredibly diverse environment, and First Nations cultural heritage here in WA is worth far more than putting profits in the pocket of a company that employs less than one per cent of West Australians.”
Mr Roberts said that even if gas was needed in the transition to renewable energy, a 45 year hand-over period was “simply ludicrous”.
“My children will be in their 50s and 60s in 2070 – that’s not a transition, that’s more than half a lifetime. At the same time, businesses in the renewables sector will continue to be stymied by the strangle-hold Big Gas has on the energy market,” he added.
Mr Roberts said CCWA supports Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Traditional Custodians Regina and Kaylene Daniel who last week invited federal Environment Minister Murray Watt to meet with them on Murujuga country before he ruled on the North West Shelf development.
ENDS