Following the handing down of a decision in the Supreme Court of Western Australia this morning (1 March 2022) - in the case of Conservation Council of WA Inc v Chairman, Environmental Protection Authority - Maggie Wood, the Executive Director of the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA), said:

“We are disappointed by this decision.

“From the outset, we have maintained that the Environmental Protection Authority failed to properly assess Woodside’s Scarborough gas development and that unless this oversight was challenged, there would be no way for West Australians to know the damage it would cause to our environment. We continue to hold that view.

“We brought this matter before the court in good faith and as an issue of considerable public interest. As a charity which is funded by the generosity of our supporters, we are not predisposed to pursuing matters in the courts. However, after other avenues – including lengthy negotiation and talks with the EPA – failed to reach agreement, we reluctantly sought legal advice which has culminated in today’s decision.

“The Scarborough proposal will bring dangerous levels of carbon and methane pollution, accelerate climate damage and have a serious impact on the prevalence of extreme weather events, like bushfires. Today’s decision does not change these facts and we remain opposed to this damaging proposal.

“We are now considering our options in light of today’s decision.”

ENDS

MEDIA INFORMATION (CCWA): The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) is the state’s foremost non-profit, non-government conservation organisation representing more than 100 environmental organisations across Western Australia. 

 For more information, visit: ccwa.org.au.

 CONTACT: For any enquiries relating to this release, please contact Robert Davies 

08 9420 7291 / 0412 272 570 or by email, [email protected]