June 12th, 2011
Environs Kimberley calls on Woodside Joint Venture Partners BP, Shell, Chevron and BHP – please explain
Broome community members protecting the Kimberley coast from destruction by Woodside and its Joint Venture Partners Shell, BP, BHP and Chevron (Photo Jeff Skinner)
Woodside Petroleum has been attempting to clear 25 hectares of sensitive bushland in the Kimberley near James Price Point. They want to drill 350 holes (200 of them require 200 metres square of clearing to dig 5 metre deep pits) to test soil as well as excavate dams to test groundwater for their proposed gas hub 50km north of Broome.
This is despite no approval for the gas hub from the Federal and WA State Government. This attempted pre-emptive clearing of intact bush, home to threatened species like the Bilby, is deeply concerning to everyone who cares about the Kimberley and its magnificent coastline.
Environs Kimberley is asking if the Joint Venture partners Shell, BP, BHP and Chevron are contributing to this destructive work. We are also asking why the Federal and State Government are approving this work when the gas hub proposal is being assessed to see if it is environmentally and socially acceptable or not.
This work is being conducted to see how much water is available and what soil condition are in order to be able to support massive heavy industry. This work is not being conducted to help the environmental assessment.
There is as yet no environmental or social licence for Woodside and its Joint Venture partners to undertake such damaging works. This is why Broome community members say they have decided to stop this work in its blockade 4km south of James Price Point.
The worlds biggest oil and gas companies have been stopped from bulldozing bushland for 6 days by passionate Broome community members. Two people have been arrested for chaining and locking themselves on to vehicles.
On Saturday 10 Indigenous women linked arms and blocked the road. Afterwards they read out sections of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People before handing to police.
The stand-off continues with questions to multi-national oil and gas companies and the State and Federal Government remining unanswered.
See video here>> (Manari Rd Blockade_day 6_10 June 2011)