Seeding Success is a native seed based project, run by the EK Sustainable Communities Team with Indigenous rangers and Traditional Owners across the Kimberley region.

Participants in the project build skills and capacity in identifying native plant species, understanding seed ripeness and viability, and documenting Traditional and local knowledge about the seasonality of seeding and growing.

Other activities include:

• advancing technical skills in native seed collection
• seed cleaning and the preparation of seed for the restoration, propagation and food industries
• the Seeding Success project works closely with the Wattleseed Collective and the Kimberley Community Seedbank to ensure maximum collaboration and benefit across all Sustainable Communities projects.

Ranger picking Goonanggi (cluster fig) Ficus racemosa, Gooniyandi Country.

Throughout 2024 and 2025, Nyangamurta and Karajarri rangers, as well as Bunuba Traditional Owners have participated in seed collection and training field trips to identify, collect and store the seeds of culturally important fruit species on their own Country.

In late 2024, participants travelled to Kununurra with the EK team on a Kimberley native seed industry exposure trip. On this trip, rangers and Traditional Owners participated in collecting, processing and storing seed on a large scale and learnt about the requirements of operating a successful seed enterprise.

Kununurra industry exposure trip: Amy Wright (Gelganyem Seed Operation), Holly Timperley (Environs Kimberley), Leesharni Thomas (Nyangumarta Rangers), Riley Shaw (Gelganyem Seed Operation), Venus Aspro (Nyangumarta Rangers), Mandy Shoveller (Environs Kimberley), Jacqueline Shoveller (Karajarri Rangers/Environs Kimberley).

In 2025, knowledge collected throughout the project, in addition to scientific knowledge provided by SKIPA (Society for Kimberley Indigenous Plants and Animals) members, will be used to publish a Kimberley Fleshy Fruit Guide. This will outline best practice guidelines for the sustainable collection, cleaning and storage of fleshy fruits for the Kimberley Seeds initiative.

Ficus species pluralis, commonly found across the Kimberley

Recording knowledge about edible species is important for Traditional Owners to keep cultural knowledge alive. It also opens the door to potential business opportunities in the bush food sector. EK will continue to work with rangers and Traditional Owners to clean and store native seed on Country, to an industry standard, and to promote a strong conservation economy in the Kimberley.

Venus Aspro (Nyangamurta Rangers) cleaning Kapok seed, Gelganyem Seed Operation

Partners: Kimberley Seeds Initiative, Kimberley Community Seedbank, SKIPA, Nyangumarta Rangers (facilitated by Yamatji Marlpa Aboriginal Corporation), Karajarri Rangers (facilitated by Karajarri Traditional Lands Association), Yawuru Country Managers (facilitated by Nyamba Buru Yawuru), Wiyi-yani u baali ganbawarra (Bunuba Women).

Funders: This project is supported by funding from the Western Australian Government's State NRM Program.

A Kimberley gas fracking proposal by Texas-based Black Mountain Energy (BME), via subsidiary Bennett Resources, has been declared a Controlled Action by the Commonwealth Department of Environment, based on the project’s potential impacts on four Matters of National Environmental Significance, including the so-called ‘water trigger’. 

Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard said the decision was the first time a shale or tight gas fracking project in Australia has been designated a Controlled Action under the EPBC Act and subject to a final approval decision by the Federal Environment Minister.

Protest at Marrickville Town Hall – the Prime Minister’s electorate calling for a frack free Kimberley. Photo: Environs Kimberley.

“We are delighted that, thanks to massive community pressure, the ‘Valhalla’ project’s impacts on the world-renowned Kimberley are now subject to a final approval decision by Environment Minister Plibersek, taking into account its impacts on water, threatened species, migratory species and the National Heritage-listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

“The proposal should have been rejected outright by the Commonwealth as ‘clearly unacceptable’ and we are very disappointed that the level of assessment set – ‘by preliminary documentation’ – is very low and could be completed very rapidly with little or no new information.

“We will now be working overtime to ensure that the assessment is as rigorous as possible and that the Minister ultimately makes the right decision.

Mt Hardman Creek flows into the Martuwarra Fitzroy River – Black Mountain is proposing to frack 2 wells within 1km of the waterway. Photo: Environs Kimberley.

“There are many aspects of this decision that are unclear in terms of what the proponent is now required to do and how the community can continue to be engaged, and also how this relates to the ongoing WA EPA assessment of the project, but we will work through that with the Department in coming days.

“Given the clear information provided by scientists and the evidence we have of the global climate crisis, including coral bleaching in the Kimberley and Ningaloo right now, to allow the opening of a new oil and gas province would be unconscionable,” Mr Pritchard said.

“The carbon emissions from these twenty test fracking wells are equivalent to putting 1.5 million cars on the road for a year, we’re talking tonnes of toxic chemicals pumped under extreme pressure underground with billions of litres of water and radioactive wastewater.

“This is an industry that should be consigned to the dustbin of history.

“Minister Plibersek and the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese need to stand for the globally significant natural and cultural values of the Kimberley before it is too late. In 2021 they committed to World Heritage listing for areas of the Kimberley where Traditional Owners wanted it. 

“History, and voters, will judge the Australian Labor Party incredibly harshly if they allow fracking in the world-renowned Kimberley.”

One of EK's strategic goals is to work collaboratively to establish grassroots sustainable economies that enable thriving communities. We are excited to continue supporting the community-led conservation economy initiative The Wattleseed Collective.

EK’s Mandy Shovellor and Victor Warrell harvesting wattleseed. Photo: Holly Timperley.

Last year the growing social enterprise was successful in supporting community members to collect wattleseed on Country right across the west Kimberley from Bidyadanga to Fitzroy Crossing – no easy feat in the muggy heat of the Kimberley build-up season.

Selina Middleton, Mandy Shovellor, Ree-alla Oscar and Shaniqua Shaw cleaning wattleseed. Photo: Tessa Mossop.

Once the superfood seed was collected from trees, it was cleaned and processed on Country, and at our new premises at 9 Farrell Street in Broome, ready to be sent out to delight tastebuds across Australia. 

The Wattleseed Collective was also successful in attracting industry development funding raised by you – our generous community – through their chuffed campaign. The money raised goes towards wages for facilitators working with each language group, the costs of vehicles, food, fuel, roasting and grinding, and Elders’ time.

Beautiful healthy wattleseed in the process of being cleaned.

You can order your delicious, nourishing wattleseed from the EK shop here. It a great gift too.

You can read more about the Wattleseed Collective here.

Thank you all who continue to support the development of this sustainable conservation enterprise initiative.

Independent legal advice states there would be no obligation for the Western Australian Government to compensate any company that possesses a petroleum tenement, should the ban on fracking be expanded to the Kimberley.

This raises serious questions about the response from Premier Roger Cook, quoted in the media recently, suggesting there could be “legal consequences for the state”, should the ban be extended to include the Kimberley. 

Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard said, “The Premier’s claims are unfounded — we’re yet to see any evidence that there would be legal ramifications from a fracking ban.

“In fact we have legal advice from a barrister — whose career includes many years at the State Solicitor's Office — that shows exactly the opposite. 

Community protest in Broome. Photo: Alex Westover.

“The legal advice is clear — no compensation would be owed to companies who hold a petroleum license if the WA Labor Government banned fracking in the Kimberley.

“The WA Government banned fracking down south and around Perth and as far as we’re aware there was no compensation, so why won’t MPs do it for the Kimberley? 

“The Premier is aware of our legal advice, and we’ve told him, if he knows something that we don’t, we’re more than happy to have it legally reviewed. 

“West Australians won’t stand by while the Kimberley is sacrificed for no reason. Traditional Owners and Kimberley locals are calling for a ban. Community organisations are calling for a ban. And so are WA Labor’s voters. It’s time to act.”

Fremantle locals know fracking the Kimberley would be disastrous. Photo: John Reed.

Lock the Gate Alliance WA Coordinator Claire McKinnon said, “Voters aren’t about to be hoodwinked by Roger Cook’s claims that fracking isn’t going to expand in the Kimberley. 

“The fact is, US company Black Mountain has plans to frack in the Kimberley going through state and federal approval processes right now. 

“Lock the Gate Alliance and Environs Kimberley have galvanised an army of volunteers and supporters in Perth and Fremantle who are backing Kimberley communities in their call for a ban. 

“If the Cook Government refuses to ban fracking in the Kimberley, then it can expect the voters of Freo and Perth to send them a strong message at the ballot box at the upcoming election.”

More than 23,000 petitions and postcards from voters calling for a ban on fracking in the Kimberley have been handed over to Premier Roger Cook and Minister Simone McGurk in Fremantle.

“The Kimberley is known for its world class landscapes, intact nature and ancient culture; to allow fracking here would be a disaster,” Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard said.

More than 23,000 voices, one clear message: ban fracking in the Kimberley.

“And Fremantle locals know it. It’s why they’ve been volunteering in droves to put up yard signs committing to vote for a candidate who will ban fracking, attending local events, and reaching out to their friends and neighbours asking them to join the momentum," he said.

“The only people who support fracking are the gas companies chasing bigger profits. Those who know about the toxic pollution and damaging production methods are completely opposed.

“This 23,000 signature petition is a powerful message to the Cook government and the Minister for Water, Simone McGurk that people want fracking banned in the Kimberley like it is in the southwest of Western Australia.”

Fremantle locals know fracking Kimberley would be disastrous.

Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Claire McKinnon said: “We’re ramping up the pressure of our community campaign – that's driven by hundreds of Freo locals – calling on Simone McGurk to ban fracking in the Kimberley in the leadup to the WA election.

“These 23,000 petitions, plus our door to door and community event surveys have revealed without a doubt that Fremantle constituents want their local MP Simone McGurk to ban fracking in the Kimberley – and they’re willing to switch their votes over it," she said.

“Fracking, which requires a toxic cocktail of dangerous chemicals and huge volumes of water, poses a major threat to the Kimberley’s communities and its unique environment.

“WA Labor was right to ban fracking across the south west of the state, but leaving the Kimberley at risk exposed a double standard. This must be fixed.” 

You can send a message asking Premier Cook to ban fracking in the Kimberley here. 

Photos: John Reed.

Premier Cook on election trail in the Kimberley – community calls for fracking ban commitment

West Australian Premier Roger Cook is on the election trail in Broome and has been greeted with a strong community call to extend the ban on fracking in the southwest of the state and the Dampier Peninsula to cover all the Kimberley.

While the WA Government under Premier Mark McGowan’s leadership promised veto rights for Traditional Owners and farmers over fracking in 2018, the promise has not been fulfilled and the whole process is creating significant division in communities across the region.

“There’s a simple answer to the whole question of the destructive industrialisation of the Kimberley through oil and gas fracking and that’s a ban on the industry like there is in the Southwest of the state,” said Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard.

The community protest at local Kimberley MP Divina D’Anna’s office called for the ban in light of the proposal by Texan fossil fuel company Black Mountain, to drill and frack 20 oil and gas wells in the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment.

The WA EPA is currently assessing the proposal and a decision will be required of the WA Government after the election.

The Kimberley community has vehemently opposed fracking for the past 12 years and concerns have been heightened recently with Black Mountain proposing a pipeline to an LNG refinery in the Pilbara.

“A recent report by climate scientists has shown the potential for 8,700 oil and gas wells across the region that would seriously undermine Australia's ability to meet its climate goals, surely the Premier Roger Cook doesn’t want to open the Kimberley to that,” Mr Pritchard said.

“What we have now is a completely different proposition to what the WA government based its lifting of the ban on fracking in the Kimberley in 2018. What we’re facing now is turning the Kimberley into Texas,” Mr Pritchard said.  

“The community wants a commitment from the Premier and the Labor party that the already existing ban on fracking in the Southwest of the state and the Dampier Peninsula be extended to cover the whole Kimberley,” Mr Pritchard said.

Surveying of over 1,000 people in the seat of Fremantle revealed 92% of voters want a ban on fracking and 72% are willing to change their vote for it.

“If its too risky for the Southwest then we shouldn’t be discriminated against in the Kimberley just because it’s been a safe Labor seat,” Mr Pritchard said.

You can send a message asking Premier Cook to ban fracking in the Kimberley here. 

Photo: Damian Kelly.

The Australian Government’s Threatened Species Commissioner Ms Fiona Fraser was in Broome recently and visited Environs Kimberley to hear about the important work we are doing to protect threatened species in the Kimberley.

We invited partners Rangelands NRM, Karajarri and Nyangumarta Rangers as well so they could also present their important work in the area. We presented the history of Environs Kimberley and our efforts supporting rangers with threatened species and ecosystem management in the Kimberley for over 16 years - from getting Monsoon Vine Thickets listed as a federally endangered ecosystem, to building capacity and supporting regional surveys and conservation of the Vulnerable Greater Bilby and Endangered Night Parrot.

We finished with important discussion about how the Australian Government plans to better prioritise two-way science projects and Indigenous leadership.

Photo (inset) L to R: Jessica Bolton (Nyangumarta Rangers), Julie Quinn (DCCEW), Chris Curnow (Rangelands NRM), Fiona Fraser (Threatened Species Commissioner, DCCEW), Malcolm Lindsay (EK) and Jesse Ala'i (Karajarri Rangers).

- Article by Dr Malcolm Lindsay, EK's Kimberley Nature Projects Director

Oil and gas companies are on notice following Buru Energy’s latest disastrous drilling project in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.

The company revealed today that its recently drilled oil exploration well, 'Rafael Shallow', near the Manguel Creek system that flows into the National Heritage listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River, has found no oil. 

Buru Energy's Rafael Shallow well site.

The announcement today that the $5 million plus well was dry, as well as no social license for oil and gas, serves as a warning that the Kimberley is too risky to invest in.

Environs Kimberley Acting CEO, Martin Pritchard said: “The time for oil and gas in the Kimberley is over, the community doesn’t want it, it’s too damaging to the environment and climate and the financial risk is not worth it.”

"The Kimberley can be powered through renewable energy, this is the future where there are guaranteed returns on investment.

This dry well serves as a warning to oil and gas companies and investors, don’t even think about bringing this polluting industry here, move to renewables, make a safe bet and don’t ruin the Kimberley."

Manguel Creek – a culturally and ecologically significant creek system with springs that flow into the National Heritage listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River.

Today marks the close of the EPA’s eight week public comment period on Black Mountain Energy’s proposal, via subsidiary Bennett Resources Ltd, to drill and frack 20 exploratory gas wells in the Kimberley (the ‘Valhalla’ project).

If approved by the Cook government, the project would be the first fracking project in the Kimberley since the lifting of the WA fracking moratorium in 2018 and the largest fracking proposal the region has seen.

Environs Kimberley (EK) as well as Seed Mob, Lock the Gate, Conservation Council of WA and the ACF have handed over several thousand public submissions opposing the fracking project, as well as our own detailed submission with accompanying expert reports on water, hydro-geology and greenhouse gas emissions.

EK Acting CEO Martin Pritchard said, “This proposal is the precursor to a catastrophic, landscape–scale onshore oil and gas fracking takeover of the Kimberley's globally–renowned tropical savannah, the largest and most intact in the world.

“Our research into Black Mountain’s fracking proposal is backed by robust, detailed science and it demonstrates the many serious impacts, risks and uncertainties associated with the project – which the company has sought to downplay or ignore in its environmental reports.

“Given what we, and other groups, have documented and submitted we believe the EPA will have to recommend against the proposal.  Then it’s up to the Cook government to make the final decision.

“We have documented significant threats to the National Heritage–listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River; to the uncontaminated groundwater aquifers relied upon by communities and the environment, and the project’s climate impacts – these 20 fracking wells alone would pollute equivalent to 1.6 million cars a year.

“Ultimately, thousands of wells and a huge pipeline would be required if the gas was to be exported through the North West Shelf, as is the current plan.

“Once fracking occurs its impacts are irreversible. When fracking companies become established, the expansion of impacts is inevitable. This has been the experience in multiple comparable fossil gas basins in the US, where Black Mountain is based.

“We're again calling on the Cook government to avert this disaster by banning fracking in the Kimberley as it has done in the Southwest, Peel and Perth Metropolitan areas. There is no good reason to allow fracking in the Kimberley while other parts of the State are protected.”

You can call on the WA Cook government to ban fracking here

Photos:

Submission handover at the EPA office Joondalup - Martin Pritchard

US fracking fields - Ecoflight

Martuwarra Fitzroy River - Martin Pritchard