Compulsory acquisition of land in the Kimberley region for a $30 billion gas project for Woodside

An explanation of the issue

The Western Australian Government and Premier Colin Barnett have made a decision to acquire land in the Kimberley region for a $30 billion gas project to be run by Woodside Petroleum.

In 2007 the then Labor Government established a taskforce to determine a single preferred site for a proposed LNG hub in the Kimberley. This taskforce membership consists of the director generals of:

• The Department of Industry and Resources (Chair)

• The Department of Environment and Conservation

• The Department of Indigenous Affairs

• The Department for Planning and Infrastructure

• The Office of Native Title

• CEO – Kimberley Development Commission

• CEO – Tourism Western Australia

(Northern Development Taskforce Interim Report: 2008)

(http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/NDT_Interim_Report_20-06-08_(Final).pdf)

Unfortunately however, while the task force looked at over 40 potential sites in the Kimberley, it paid only lip service to the assessment of alternatives to Kimberley coast options. The field was then narrowed to just 4 sites – all in the Kimberley – considered as worthy of further assessment.

At this stage a change of WA Government occurred (September 2008) and Premier Colin Barnett’s Liberal-National-Independent Government was formed.

It is at this point that WA Premier Colin Barnet unhappy with the progress disbanded the Northern Development taskforce. “The new WA Premier dumped the task force process and made a unilateral decision that North Head on the Dampier Peninsula north of Broome was the best site.” (http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/kimberley-lng-gas-plant-and-james-price-pointfaq-your-questions-answered#what-s-it-all)

The WA Government is has now begun proceedings to forcibly take land at James Price Point, north of Broome, to allow the development of the gas hub. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/03/3001402.htm)

Below is a recent ABC news report further explaining the issue:

Why this area is so important:

The Kimberley is one of Australia’s hidden treasures with an immense and complex landscape that encompasses spectacular gorges, waterfalls and cave systems, pockets of lush rainforest and an astonishing variety of wildlife. Wild and wonderful, the Kimberley is one of the world’s last great wilderness areas.

The Kimberley’s clean seas, innumerable islands, coral reefs, mangroves, bays and estuaries are home to an astonishing variety of wildlife including Humpback whales and Dugong, five species of turtles, crocodiles, rare Snubfin dolphins and a coral reef network of global significance. (http://www.savethekimberley.com/wp/whats-the-fuss/whats-at-stake/) The Kimberley coast also has outstanding cultural values for the region’s many Indigenous peoples.

The Kimberley is home to some 40,000 people, of those 40, 000 people approximately 33% are aboriginal. For aboriginal people this area is of extreme importance and significance to their past, present and future and to their own identities. The Australian Government centre for culture and recreation describes indigenous’ communities relationship to the land in the following way:

Land is fundamental to the wellbeing of Aboriginal people. The land is not just soil or rocks or minerals, but a whole environment that sustains and is sustained by people and culture. For Indigenous Australians, the land is the core of all spirituality and this relationship and the spirit of ‘country’ is central to the issues that are important to Indigenous people today.

(http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/indigenous/)

Watch this video and see for yourself how beautiful this region is:

How destructive will the proposed JPP development be?

1) Impact on Environment

The Premier of Western Australia described the proposed development as being relatively minor (http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2010/s3000989.htm). This however is not the case, the development is a major one and includes the following:

• 4 gas pipelines coming ashore at James Price Point LNG processing requires huge areas of land, major ports and other infrastructure.
• 4 oil pipelines coming ashore at James Price Point
• 4 export pipelines (2 with monoethylene glycol—anti-freeze— going to Scott Reef, 2 with carbon dioxide if Woodside decides it wants to ‘geo-sequester’ it)
• 8 huge LNG tanks, 4 LPG storage tanks, 4 oil tanks
• Construction camp for 3,500 – 6,000 workers
• 1,000 permanent personnel
• Desalination plant
• 1000 – 1,500 LNG tanker movements year

(Woodside LNG Development Update: May 2009)

The proposal for a major industrial complex on the Kimberley coast would introduce a range of environmental impacts and threats; compromise the sustainable economic future of the Kimberley (e.g. tourism, well managed fisheries etc.) and would act as a ‘thin edge of the wedge’ to trigger many other damaging developments in the Kimberley such as strip mining for bauxite and alumina refineries, and polluting fertiliser or ammonia plants. (http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley/kimberley-lng-gas-plant-and-james-price-pointfaq-your-questions-answered#what-s-it-all)

2) Impact on Aboriginal Community:

For Indigenous Australians, the land is the core of all spirituality and this relationship and the spirit of ‘country’ is central to the issues that are important to Indigenous people today. So for the traditional owners of the land the compulsory acquisition of the land is devastating. The Kimberley Land Council has described Mr. Barnett’s decision as “sticking a finger in the eye” of Aboriginal people in the Kimberley. Indigenous Academic Mick Dobson has said “What I say to the Premier is be very careful about setting precedents like this; they can do more damage that you can ever imagine. I think compulsorily acquisition is, in a sense, another act of colonialism, it’s another theft of our land, it’s another invasion.”

Jabirr Jabirr tradtional owner Frank Parriman on the proposed James Price Point development and what it could mean for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley

The Aboriginal Community also see the industrialisation of the area as not consistent with their spirituality and relationship to this land. “Heavy industrial development threatens all of this. It threatens to directly damage country, our sacred sites and special songlines. The infrastructure which it brings will open the land to further destructive developments and an erosion of country and culture; an erosion of us.

It’s difficult to see how this use of country can be made in any way compatible with the past, present or future of the Traditional Owners of the Kimberley. “ (The Bradshaw Foundation – www.bradshawfoundation.com/bradshaws)

3) Impact on the Local Economy:

A recent report by Curtin University has suggested that building the plant will damage the regions tourism brand. The report by Dr Micheal Hughes says “The Kimberley is internationally recognised as a brand and that brand relates to remote wilderness escapes, luxury pristine coastline and empty horizons. Because of its strong brand and image, tourism actually comprises a significant part of the regional economy and it contributes significantly to the social fabric.” The report then goes on to say “Large-scale industrial development would devalue the Kimberley brand and adversely affect tourism, a major component of the Broome and Kimberley economy.” (Kimberley Whale Coast Tourism: 2010) (http://www.wilderness.org.au/pdf/Kimberley_WhaleCoast_Report.pdf)

What needs to be done (an alternative?)

1) Let the Northern Development Taskforce to run its course. The purpose the taskforce is and should continue to be the following:

a) Manage across-government planning processes and stakeholder consultation in regard to selection and development of a suitable location or locations for the processing of Browse Basin gas reserve.

b) Set the framework for how the State will protect and manage the important Indigenous heritage, environment and tourism values of the Kimberley area while facilitating structured industrial development.

c) Set the framework for how the State will protect and manage the important Indigenous heritage, environment and tourism values of the Kimberley area while facilitating structured industrial development.

d) The process must be finalised in a timely manner to prevent ad-hoc development in this important wilderness region.

(Northern Development Taskforce Interim Report: 2008)
(http://www.dsd.wa.gov.au/documents/NDT_Interim_Report_20-06-08_(Final).pdf)

2) The establishment of a conservation plan for the Kimberly:

“There is also no over-arching conservation plan or adequate protective tenures and arrangements in place to tackle these threats.” (Wild Australia: 2010)

3) All gas reservoirs to be processed using floating LNG Technology

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a4fBz4gIVgHE

This Includes further government assistance in the development of offshore processing technologies. We firmly believe that government should assist private companies in the further development of this untested technology. Companies that assist in this development and then using these technologies in there business operations than such companies will be entitled to grants to help assist in any costs associated with the development of such technologies.

Links to other organisation or groups workings in this area or on this topic:

The Conservation Council of WA http://conservationwa.asn.au/content/view/81/161/
Environs Kimberley http://www.environskimberley.org.au/
Save the Kimberley http://www.savethekimberley.com/
Hands Off Country blog http://handsoffcountry.blogspot.com/

The Wilderness Society
http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/kimberley?utm_source=topmenu&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=kimberley

Get up
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/Homelands&id=1386

Kimberly Land Council
http://klc.org.au/

What actions people can take:

1) Write to the people that make the decisions and let them know how you feel about the proposed development in the Kimberley, its impact on the environment and its impact on Aboriginal People.

a) Colin Barnett – Premier of Western Australia:

Hon Colin Barnett MLA
Suite 12/589 Stirling Highway
Cottesloe, Western Australia, 6011

Telephone: +61 8 9383 1505
Facsimile: +61 8 9385 2352
Email: cottesloe@mp.wa.gov.au

b) Dr Kim Hames – Deputy Premier and Minister of Aboriginal Affairs:

28th Floor
Governor Stirling Tower
197 St Georges Terrace
Perth, Western Australia, 6000

Telephone: +61 8 9222 8788
Facsimile: +61 8 9222 8799
Email: Minister.Hames@dpc.wa.gov.au

c) Martin Ferguson – Minister for Resources and Energy

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Telephone: +61 2 6277 7930
Facsimile: +61 2 6273 0434
Email: Martin.Ferguson.MP@aph.gov.au

2) Join with us and sign our online petition:

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/39403.html

3) Join our Twitter and Facebook pages and contribute to that debate.

You can also share these pages with your friends and encourage them to join our groups. This is all about gaining strong community support and taking it to the Western Australian Government.

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/keepitours

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kimberley-Keep-it-Ours/120058864714510