The Conservation Council of WA (CCWS) has reaffirmed its rejection of Woodside’s Browse gas proposal, following approval of Woodside’s revised plans by the WA Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today.
CCWA Executive Director Matt Roberts said acceptance of the revisions by the EPA did not mean the agency has approved the project.
“This is a normal step in the process and what we expected. The revisions noted in the statement released today are those proposed by Woodside in its submission, not the EPA,” Mr Roberts said.
“The EPA noted in its media statement that Woodside’s amendments ‘don’t change the previously identified key environmental factors’, and we agree. The threats to the climate and marine life remain. The decision-making process now continues.
“In 2024, the EPA made a preliminary finding that the Browse project posed unacceptable impacts to the environment, in particular Scott Reef.
“Our review and Dr Ben Fitzpatrick’s review of Woodside’s revised proposal has not found any compelling changes that would alter the EPA’s preliminary finding.
“While Woodside has significantly lowered the envelope of its drilling field, we’re still talking about an area four times the size of Rottnest Island (Wadjemup). We need to give Scott Reef the best chance of survival and approving Woodside’s Browse proposal would be the final nail in the coffin.
“Marine bleaching all up the coast of WA recently has been devastating and highlights the huge threats our reefs face – the Australian Institute of Marine Science report released last week made it clear the greatest impact on our reefs is caused by climate change driven by burning fossil fuels.
“Scott Reef cannot survive 50 drills rigs, the impact of subsidence on the Green Sea Turtle nesting area of Sandy Islet, or another 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon emissions.
“Drilling will still be taking place unacceptably close to this unique marine ecosystem, and extracting fossil fuels from underneath the reef, which includes Sandy Islet, a critical nesting ground for endangered green sea turtles. Gas drilling is highly likely to cause subsidence of the ocean floor, potentially submerging this tiny atoll altogether.
“The proximity of the project to the incredible natural values of the Scott Reef system which are at risk from oil spills, subsidence and disturbance from the operations is untenable. The only option is to reject it,” Mr Roberts added.