Archive for April, 2011
Gas hub agreement close
ABC News
Traditional owners of land earmarked for a gas hub in the Kimberley region of WA are on the verge of finalising Australia’s biggest land use agreement.
Kimberley gas safety deal sought
Woodside has refused to offer guarantees to traditional owners on what it would do in the event of an industrial disaster off the Kimberley coast from a gas precinct at James Price Point, former Kimberley Land Council executive director Wayne Bergmann says.
Humpbacks seen off the coast
AMY WILLIAMS
Broome Advertiser
Whales off Broome (2010 image)
The first of the migrating humpback whales have been seen in the Kimberley, about six weeks before they were expected.
One local said he saw five whales off the coast at Coconut Well more than two weeks ago, and another two whales on Sunday, April 10.
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Toads threaten heritage park
JANE HAMMOND
Cane toad (Photo credit: NSW Office of Environment & Heritage)
The West Australian
Conservationists are preparing for a major battle against the cane toad, with the creatures expected to reach the World Heritage-listed Purnululu National Park within weeks. Full story>>
Gas hub fighter has new plan
Geoffrey Cousins (Kirsty Cockburn)
Millionaire businessman Geoffrey Cousins will not bother asking Colin Barnett to change his mind about building a multi-million-dollar gas precinct in the Kimberley. “He’s a lost cause,” he said.
Instead, the former Optus Vision chief turned green campaigner who fought against a Tasmanian pulp mill plans to hit the James Price Point project where it hurts.
He plans to target Woodside Petroleum’s board of directors, its joint venture partners Chevron, BHP Billiton, BP and Shell, their shareholders and any potential investors. Full story>>
Browse gas project hits more headwinds
Andrew Burrell The Australian
WOODSIDE Petroleum’s plans to build the $30 billion Browse liquefied natural gas project on Western Australia’s Kimberley coast has run into more trouble after renewed opposition from environmentalists and indigenous landowners. Full story>>
Shire approves camp for early Browse work
Broome Advertiser
Broome Shire councillors last week approved Woodside’s application for a temporary off-site workers camp near Broome.
The camp will accommodate workers employed to build the construction village at the James Price Point site, as well as early site clearing works and building a temporary marine off-loading facility at the Browse LNG Precinct. Full story>>
‘Dirty move’ in Woodside talks
Sydney Morning Herald
Mathew Murphy
Traditional owners have accused Woodside Petroleum of betraying a promise to negotiate in good faith after the West Australian government started moves to acquire land compulsorily before final meetings with Kimberley Aborigines. Full story>>
Gas land deal stalls on aquisition push
The West Australian
FLIP PRIOR, AMY WILLIAMS and NEALE PRIOR
Up to 80 native title claimants negotiating a land use agreement with Woodside and the State Government for its multi-million dollar gas precinct at James Price Point have stormed out of a meeting in Broome after learning the State wants to compulsorily acquire land for the project.
Full story>>
Anger over moves to acquire Kimberley land
ABC News
21 April, 2011
Indigenous land owners in the Kimberley are angry about the latest move by the State Government to acquire land for a gas plant north of Broome.
Full story>>