Albany environmentalists organised a “No New Gas” protest to mark the end of a public consultation period on Woodside’s Browse Basin to North West Shelf development.
Members of the Albany Community Environment Centre organised the demonstration, which attracted more than 30 people waving “no new gas” and “save Scott Reef” placards at Middleton Beach on June 9.
Mining giant Woodside wants to mine for gas at Scott Reef. and the protest coincided with the end of the Environmental Protection Agency’s four-week public submission spell.
The Torosa gas field lies underneath Scott Reef, within the Browse Basin, 500km off the Kimberley coast.
ACEC committee member Dave Rastrick said Scott Reef had a unique marine ecosystem.
“Gas mining at Scott Reef would destroy the habitat of many threatened species,” he said.
“It harbours critical marine biodiversity including over 1500 species of invertebrates, nearly 900 species of fish. and multiple species of sharks, rays and turtles.”
The Environmental Protection Authority opened a four-week window for public comment after Woodside asked to amend its development.
According to the EPA, Woodside said the proposed changes included reducing the size of the development so it no longer overlapped with the Scott Reef shallow-water benthic habitats or Sandy Islet.
A benthic habitat refers to the organisms and the environment on the sea bed.
Also, there would be modifications to remove or relocate drilling units to avoid green turtle habitats, and the adoption of technology to minimise the risk of a loss-of-well control event.
EPA chair Darren Walsh said it was unusual for the agency to ask for public consultation, but it was warranted because it was a complex project with multiple environmental factors.
“Public consultation on a proposed amendment is not usual process for the EPA, but we believe that in this case the circumstances warrant it,” he said.
The EPA report and recommendations to the minister for environment are expected to be finalised by the end of the year.
Following that there will be a three-week public appeal window before the minister’s final decision.
https://thewest.com.au/news/albany-advertiser/albany-community-environment-centre-protesters-at-middleton-beach-call-for-no-new-gas-at-scott-reef-c-19010502
