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MEDIA RELEASE
18 August 2010

Wilderness Society calls for immediate halt pending environmental assessment

The Wilderness Society has today made an urgent 'Section 38' referral to the EPA over Woodside’s plans to conduct exploratory drilling off James Price Point, north of Broome.

The drilling is part of Woodside’s plan to develop a huge polluting LNG industrial site on the Kimberley coast.

Wilderness Society Marine Coordinator Dr Jill St John said, "Woodside is trying to work out how to develop an industrial port in this incredibly pristine and sensitive marine environment."

"We only received notice of this work this week and are now calling on the EPA to stop any work and carry out an environmental impact assessment."

"This area is known to have rich and diverse marine life including
•    Protected Humpback whales and their calves
•    Endemic Snubfin dolphins
•    Vulnerable Flatback turtles
•    Protected Dugong
•    Seagrass beds
•    Amazing corals and filter-feeder communities.

"We are gravely concerned that Woodside has a ‘blank cheque’ to conduct drilling wherever, whenever and however it deems necessary over a large unspoiled marine area, without any specific conditions or limitations that reflect the amazing values of this area.

"The EPA must act on this proposal, regardless of the power of Woodside and its close ties to the WA government."