THE controversial Kimberley gas hub has been given a "strict conditional" go-ahead from Western Australia's environmental watchdog.
Environmental Protection Authority chairman Paul Vogel today said the assessment of the gas precinct at James Price Point, north of Broome, was the largest and most multi-faceted in the department’s 40-year history.
“The level of community debate about this has been unprecedented, absolutely, it has polarised white and indigenous communities across Australia,” said Dr Vogel, adding that the Kimberley’s relatively undisturbed environment was one of the key issues.
Woodside Petroleum’s $30 billion Browse liquefied natural gas project will underpin the development of the gas hub, subject to a final investment decision next year, as well as state and federal ministerial approvals.
The proposed gas hub, which is being driven by the WA Government , has been dogged with controversy since the Barnett government announced the location in 2008.
Recently, the EPA’s decision making process came under scrutiny after it revealed that four of the five board members were stood aside due to conflicts of interest.
Dr Vogel was the only board member left to make the recommendation. He today defended the EPA’s method for choosing the James Price Point location and the subsequent recommendation, saying it was a “well thought out process”.
He also said he had access to a wide-range of experts and organisations that helped him formulate his recommendations, which he said was workable for Woodside’s project.
The EPA has laid down a “rigorous set” of 29 conditions and offsets for the gas hub, following wide consultation with traditional owners, community members, interest groups and scientific experts.
Included in the conditions are strict boundaries for seabed dredging and ongoing monitoring and reporting of the hub’s surrounding environment - particularly humpback whales and bilbies.
The EPA has also heeded concerns regarding aboriginal heritage matters, with particular attention to the fossilised dinosaur footprints, which Dr Vogel said was of regional, national and international importance.
As a result, the gas hub will not be allowed to cross the shore within 900 metres of James Price Point in order to avoid disturbing the area.
The EPA report is up for public appeal for the next two weeks. Dr Vogel said today he was sure there will be many submissions, but whether there would be a legal challenge was up to individuals to decide.
The Wilderness Society, which has been one of many organisations that have been vocal about its opposition to the project, said today the EPA’s recommendation is a non-decision by just one person.
“Under Section 11 of the Environmental Protection Act, the Independent Board is required to have a quorum of at least three in order to make a decision,” the society’s Peter Robertson said.
“The Authority and Environment Minister [Bill] Marmion have used a loophole to thwart the intent of the Act and try to rail road through an approval.”
Dr Vogel said he and the EPA did not feel any pressure from the State Government with regards to making the favourable recommendation.
In a statement today, Mr Marmion - who had delayed the release of the report following the board members' conflict of interest - said he believed the EPA had taken the appropriate course of action and has "confidence in the integrity of the EPA chairman Dr Vogel, to provide me with informed advice and recommendations on the project".
"In light of the public statements made at the time questioning the appropriateness of the EPA's process, I decided it was proper to seek legal advice from the State Solicitor's Office before releasing [today's] report," he said.
Mr Marmion will make a final decision on the Kimberley gas precinct following the two-week public appeals period.
WOODSIDE REACTION
Woodside Petroleum today welcomed the EPA's recommendation, with chief executive Peter Coleman saying the company would review the strict conditions.
"We are confident that the social and environmental impacts arising from the development and operation of an LNG precinct on the Dampier Peninsula can be minimised and managed effectively," he said.
Mr Coleman reaffirmed that Woodside remained on track to make a final investment decision on Browse LNG project in the first half of 2013.
The Browse project will have the capacity to produce 12 million tonnes of LNG each year.
The gas precinct at James Price Point will have the capacity to produce up to 50 million tonnes of LNG a year with the addition of other LNG producers.
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