As Woodside seeks approval to develop the Browse offshore gas field near Broome, documents obtained by Greenpeace under FOI have revealed that the tourist hotspot was subject to “unbearable” aircraft noise during the last wave of offshore construction.

During the construction phases of the Prelude and Ichthys offshore facilities, a helicopter arrived or departed approximately every twenty minutes during the peak of the activity, with military-style choppers frequently operating outside curfew hours, even on public holidays.

If Woodside’s Browse facility gets approval, Broome can expect far worse.

“Not only is Woodside’s Browse a disaster for our climate and for WA nature, but it will create absolute helicopter hell for residents in Broome,” said Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard.

“This is just one more reason why Woodside’s Browse project can’t be allowed to go ahead. We need federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to protect our beautiful Kimberley coast and Broome’s multi-million dollar tourism industry, and to stop Woodside in its tracks.”

Proprietor of the Broome Hire Centre and local tourism operator Don Bacon said Woodside’s helicopters were too damaging for tourism: “Tourists come to Broome for the relaxed holiday feel - why would they holiday here if they are going to be assaulted by a pre-dawn chorus of military style helicopters? This can’t be allowed to happen. The town’s main industry is tourism; industrial noise is not compatible with a thriving visitor economy here. We want Broome to be Broome, not to turn it into Karratha!”

BACKGROUND:

In July 2017, the Prelude FLNG arrived in WA waters, some 475 kms north of Broome. Eighteen months later, on Boxing Day 2018, it became operational. Inpex also started producing at the neighboring Ichthys facility that year.

Construction and mining workers at both of these offshore facilities need to travel there by helicopter from Broome. The initial stages of setting up these facilities are particularly labour intensive and require large numbers of helicopter movements.

“As the offshore facilities are progressively hooked-up and commissioned, the number of workers and vessels required offshore will gradually reduce,” Inpex wrote at the time. “This transition will also see an aligned reduction in the number of helicopter flights operating out of Broome.”

Over those two years, noise complaints in Broome went through the roof. Airservices Australia data, released exclusively to Greenpeace Australia Pacific, show a tenfold increase in complaints from Broome in 2017-18 compared with other years.

It is little wonder that this happened. Helicopter traffic regularly peaked at over 1000 flights per month in that period. That’s 33 per day, and if all those flights had been crammed into daylight hours, it equals one flight almost every 20 minutes. Unfortunately, much of the traffic occurred at night or early in the morning, making the noise particularly disruptive, according to complaints.

No other time has come close to matching this. Throughout much of the period, starting in June 2017, when PHI began flying its helicopters out of Broome, helicopter flights made up a third of all traffic at Broome airport.

The helicopters used are twin-engined models that are significantly larger than joyflight tourist helicopters also seen in Broome.

Greenpeace has obtained copies of complaints made in Broome during the construction period. Highlighting the extent of the issue, the complaints included the following statements:

• “It's 6 am on Saturday morning and I have been awake since about 5am this morning due to the continuous loud helicopter noise, which has also woken my small children.”
• “These aircraft fly over early every morning and then fly in and out all day.”
• “Helicopter noise from Broome airport is so loud it woke me up. It drones on and on, before sunrise, in the day and now after 11pm at night. Can't sleep at night, can't sleep in in the mornings, can't concentrate in the day with these incessant periodic noise events. Health hazard.”
• “I have had tourists telling me they won't be coming back to Broome next year if this is how it is going to be, too bloody noisy.”
• "Sick to death of living in what feels and sounds [like] a war zone."
• “The impact of these helicopters is immense and it's really unbearable to hear those blades over your house. I contacted these cowboys and the airport in the past but now they don't take my calls anymore.”
•  “The helicopters are using my place as a navigational point. They should be flying somewhere else instead of right over my house.”
•  “The airport is very close into the Broome township. The helicopters make unacceptable noise levels near residential areas. When is the helicopter base going to be moved?”
• “Why do the helicopters sound like they are just driving up and down for an hour, its very noisy and if its not at 7-9pm its 5.45am-6.45am its very annoying and being a shift worker either end is hard to sleep. I cant wear and shouldn't have to wear earplugs.”
• “Would like to lodge a complaint for helicopter noise last twenty minutes or so, just sitting there on the runway, also excessive noise from helicopters early in the mornings taking off and returning as well as training ones on Friday nights.”

If Woodside’s Browse facility gets approval, Broome can expect far worse.

Woodside’s proposed project will dwarf what is already in place in terms of both scale and complexity - and that will mean a sharp rise in helicopter traffic.

“The complexities of projects like Browse are myriad,” the AFR has reported, “and they stretch way beyond the technical, geological and geographic.”

Woodside’s Browse operation is massively bigger than what is already in place, and will triple local production. At 11.4 million tonnes per annum, Woodside’s Browse operation is more than double the combined capacities of Prelude and Ichthys (3.6 MTPA and 1.6 MTPA).

Woodside’s project will exist in waters as deep as 700 metres, more than twice as deep as the 250 metre waters where the existing projects operate.

This will all, of course, also require a workforce that is significantly greater than was previously used.

The airport says 45,000 per year are already transported by helicopter to work on oil and gas facilities.

Unfortunately for residents, tourists and tourism operators in Broome, the approval of Woodside’s project will mean many more helicopters - in the short term, and in the long run.

Broome locals have been left in the dark over the dangerous climate and nature risks posed by Woodside’s new plans to drill at Scott Reef and develop the Browse field off the Kimberley coast, environmental groups and experts say. 

Experts will brief Broome locals, who are largely unaware of Woodside’s new plans for their town, at a special campaign launch in Broome to ‘Save Scott Reef’ hosted by Environs Kimberley, Greenpeace and Conservation Council of WA at Broome Lotteries House on Thursday May 16. 

Ten years after Woodside’s failed attempt to build an onshore gas processing plant at James Price Point, the fossil fuel giant is planning to build a 900-kilometre-long pipeline off the Kimberley coast to pipe gas from the Browse field to the Karratha gas plant, as part of its wider Burrup Hub project. 

Woodside’s proposal, which has been submitted for federal and state approval, would see the company drill up to 50 wells at the stunning Scott Reef, turning pristine waters into an industrial gas zone. 

Sitting 270 kilometres off the Kimberley coast, Scott Reef is one of Australia’s most vibrant and biodiverse standalone coral reefs, home to many threatened species including endangered green sea turtles and the endangered pygmy blue whale. 

The stunning Scott Reef off the Kimberley coast where Woodside plans to drill up to 50 gas wells to develop the Browse field. Credit: Alex Westover, Greenpeace. 

Woodside wants to drill just two kilometres from Scott Reef’s edge, risking a catastrophic oil spill. Meanwhile, the pipeline Woodside wants to build will also sit within 2 to 3 kilometres of the stunning Rowley Shoals, a diving paradise regularly visited by Broome marine tourism operators.  

Broome locals have not been informed of the dangerous risks Woodside’s plans pose for the Kimberley coast. 

“Woodside’s plans haven’t been made clear and transparent to Broome residents. People are just not aware of the risks. If something goes wrong, a well blowout could spread for hundreds of kilometres,” said Martin Pritchard, Director of Strategy at Environs Kimberley. 

“Woodside’s safety record has been described by unions as ‘diabolical.’ They have had two pipeline accidents already this year off Karratha. We must place the protection of the Kimberley coast and everyone's jobs in tourism over Woodside profits.” 

With the project facing possible approval within the next few months, Environs Kimberley called on Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to visit Broome and Scott Reef to see first-hand what is at stake. 

“This is a massive new fossil fuel development in a critically important area for endangered pygmy blue whales and green turtles - it’s completely unacceptable. Minister Plibersek can protect our oceans and wildlife for future generations by stopping Woodside’s destructive plans. We would like to invite her to come to the Kimberley and see for herself what's at stake,” Mr Pritchard said. 

At the launch, IPCC report author and renowned climate scientist Bill Hare will discuss climate modelling that indicates Broome will become unliveable if fossil fuel emissions are not drastically reduced soon. 

Environs Kimberley and Greenpeace will also present new research that highlights a massive increase in noise pollution from the number of helicopters taking off and landing at Broome airport and disturbing local residents, if Woodside’s Browse project is approved. 

“Scott Reef is the unknown jewel in the crown of Australia’s offshore reefs. There would be a national outcry if Woodside was drilling for oil and gas on the Great Barrier Reef, we need the same kind of response here,” said Mr Pritchard.

“Broome banded together and successfully defeated Woodside in 2013. We need the community’s support again here to protect Scott Reef and the Kimberley coast from Woodside for good.”

Over 1,000 people have sent a letter to Minister for Ports David Michael calling for the protection of Broome's Entrance Point Reef from an industrial jetty primarily for the oil and gas industry.

Mark Coles-Smith, Michael Jalaru Torres and Paul Boon call for the protection of Entrance Point Reef  Photo: Damian Kelly

Entrance Point Reef is a well-loved marine wonderland with over 40 species of coral, clown fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Locals regard it as a premier land-based fishing spot and a popular reef exploring area. Already, damage to the area has been done. You can read more here CALL TO STOP DESTRUCTIVE DRILLING AT ENTRANCE POINT REEF IN BROOME

“The community is calling on Minister for Ports David Michael to protect Entrance Point Reef which is a premier land-based fishing spot and the most popular reef exploring area in Broome from an industrial jetty which is mainly for the oil and gas industry," Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard said.

Naomi Pigram, Ngaire Pigram and Amanda McInerney call for the protection of Entrance Point Reef. Photo Damian Kelly

To send a letter to the Minister david Michael, go here Letter to Protect Entrance Point Reef

To sign a hard copy petition or help get signatures contact the EK Office on 0891921922 

 To stay informed on this issue, follow our link, scroll down & sign up: https://bit.ly/StayInformedWithEK

: Damian Kelly

A protest in Broome had 150 people calling on the WA Minister for Ports Hon. David Michael to protect Entrance Point reef from an industrial floating jetty primarily for the oil and gas industry.

Mark Coles-Smith, Michael Jalaru Torres and Paul Boon call for the protection of Entrance Point Reef  Photo: Damian Kelly

Entrance Point Reef is a well-loved marine wonderland with over 40 species of coral, clown fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Locals regard it as a premier land-based fishing spot and a popular reef exploring area. Already, damage to the area has been done. You can read more here CALL TO STOP DESTRUCTIVE DRILLING AT ENTRANCE POINT REEF IN BROOME

“The community is calling on Minister for Ports David Michael to protect Entrance Point Reef which is a premier land-based fishing spot and the most popular reef exploring area in Broome from an industrial jetty which is mainly for the oil and gas industry," Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard said.

Naomi Pigram, Ngaire Pigram and Amanda McInerney call for the protection of Entrance Point Reef. Photo Damian Kelly

Over 1,000 people have signed the petition to Minister for Ports David Michael. To sign, go here Petition to Protect Entrance Point Reef

 To stay informed on this issue, follow our link, scroll down & sign up: https://bit.ly/StayInformedWithEK

: Damian Kelly

The Kimberley coast is amongst the top 4% of the most intact coastlines in the world. The seagrass beds, mangroves and coral communities are healthy; fish, turtle, dugong, dolphin and crab populations depend on them.

Roebuck Bay is cherished by all sectors of the Broome community, highly valued for its natural and cultural values. The reefs around the Bay and at Entrance Point are highly significant for local Aboriginal people, who have been fishing here for countless generations and have been bringing families down to enjoy all aspects of the reef for recreation, learning, spiritual and physical sustenance and deep contemplation. More than 40 species of coral have recently been found here by the community. Dinosaur footprints of high cultural value are present.

The proposed industrial private floating jetty at Entrance Point is extremely concerning to the community.

It would not only open the door to industrialising the West Kimberley, but would also damage the cherished Entrance Point Reef.

We call on you, the Minister for Ports David Michael and the WA Government to protect Entrance Point Reef in perpetuity from damaging industrial development.

Broome based conservation organisation Environs Kimberley is calling on the WA Minister for Ports Hon. David Michael to halt drilling on a sensitive reef near Broome.

Entrance Point Reef is a well-loved marine wonderland with over 40 species of coral, clown fish, shellfish and crustaceans. Locals regard it as a premier land-based fishing spot and a popular reef exploring area.

Drilling started in the last couple of days in preparation for construction of an industrial floating jetty mainly for the oil and gas industry. Already, damage has been done.

Questions in Parliament by Greens MLC Brad Pettit revealed this week that despite an announcement that construction had begun on the project it has yet to receive final approvals from the Port of Broome -
The final design, “…requires a works approval by Kimberley Ports Authority and KMSB will obtain an independent design verification report.”

It was also revealed in Parliament through other questions that Minister for Ports David Michael admitted the, “...reef has not been assessed for its environmental significance.”

“Yesterday we found a drilling machine that smashed part of the reef and destroyed very old red coral. We are shocked that this is happening when there hasn’t been an environmental assessment of the reef as revealed in the WA Parliament this week,” said Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard.

“We are calling on Minister for Ports David Michael to stop this destructive drilling on Entrance Point Reef which is a premier land-based fishing spot and the most popular reef exploring area in Broome. The reef has not been assessed for its environmental significance and there’s an urgent need to do that before more damage is done.”

“We have also found out that despite announcing the beginning of construction the proposal hasn’t had final approval from the Port. It’s also been revealed that the design of the floating wharf was tested in a wave pool in Copenhagen, Denmark. We are concerned that this facility would be unable to cope with cyclonic conditions and big waves. It could be smashed to bits in such an event and we’re calling for the engineering design to be made public.”

“There are also serious concerns that there has not been a dinosaur footprint survey in this area, everyone knows how important the Entrance Point area is for the 130 million footprints and we’re calling on Federal Minister for the Environment Tanya Plibersek to intervene here and make sure none are destroyed.”

We are disappointed to hear the announcement that construction has begun on the Kimberley Marine Support Base in Broome.

“Work started on the floating jetty last week with the company and WA government saying it will boost the region's oil and gas industries as well as tourism and agriculture,” ABC Kimberley reported.

Environs Kimberley’s Martin Pritchard said it was surprising that the reported $200 million investment is based on revenue from projects that have yet to be approved. Report on ABC Kimberley - 

We are extremely surprised that the Cook government is facilitating this given that, according to the Kimberley Development Commission, it’s based on revenue from the Roebuck Basin - as yet, no oil or gas discoveries have been made in the Roebuck Basin. Browse Basin project by Woodside – no final investment decision has been made. Cruise ships – already dock at the existing jetty. Live export of cattle – already go through the Port of Broome and are high risk given the potential for the industry to be shut down by disease. Shipping containers – there are no industries using large amounts of containers.

This proposed development, supposedly based on industrialising the Kimberley through oil and gas, comes at a time when we’ve been clearly told that no new fossil fuel projects can be opened if we want a safe planet. It’s also in the middle of the Entrance Point reef platform which bears over 40 species of coral and an intricate web of marine life.