Urgent help needed for a Frack Free Kimberley

Our community has until Wed 7 August 2024 to request a full assessment of a proposal to frack the Kimberley

Black Mountain Energy, via subsidiary Bennett Resources Ltd, has just referred a proposal to frack in the heart of the Kimberley to the Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek for a decision on whether a full Commonwealth assessment under the EPBC Act is required.

Please help by sending a quick submission following the steps below. In each submission it is vital that we say this proposal must be considered a "CONTROLLED ACTION" in order for it to receive the highest level of scrutiny and assessment.

Kimberley residents protest the fracking proposal. Pic: Alex Westover.

Help now by following these 8 simple steps: 

1. Go to the EPBC Act Public Portal (click here).

2. Click on 'Make a Comment'

3. Fill in the required fields including your full name and email. The title for your comment can simply be "Keep the Kimberley Frack Free".

4. Answer YES to 'do you consider this a controlled action?'

5. Give reasons why you consider it a “Controlled Action”. You can copy and paste this to make it easy - 

This referral should be rejected as it does not correctly describe the entire 20 well 'Valhalla' project currently being assessed by the WA EPA.

If the referral is not rejected, this project needs to be declared a ‘Controlled Action’ as it will have a significant impact on Matters of National Environmental Significance, including –

• Groundwater and surfacewater – the EPBC water trigger needs to be invoked;
• Threatened species like the Bilby and Freshwater Sawfish;
• Martuwarra Fitzroy River National Heritage area – this is downstream of the Valhalla fracking project and could be affected by this proposal.

6. Answer yes or no to the remaining three questions on confidentiality and privacy.

7. Add documents if you wish.

8. Submit by closing date: Wed 7 August 2024 (11:59pm)

Thank you for helping protect the Kimberley from fracking. You can also help by signing a petition asking the West Australian Premier to ban fracking in the Kimberley here.