New report shows sites for gas hub outside Kimberley more appropriate

Wilderness Society WA Inc and Environs Kimberley
Media Release
31 May 2009

New report shows sites for gas hub outside Kimberley more appropriate

A report commissioned by Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett’s department shows that a controversial gas processing site could be built in the Pilbara instead of on the Kimberley coast near Broome.

The proposal to build a 3000 hectare industrial site to process gas has been strongly criticised by environment groups because of the potential environmental and social impacts and the ensuing industrialisation of the Kimberley coast.

In its conclusion the report says, “At first glance a significant number of sites along the Pilbara Coast present themselves as sites for an LNG precinct.” It then outlines a number of constraints to such a development in the Pilbara, as well as the social and environmental impacts it would have; however it is clear from the report that almost all of these constraints and impacts would be the same or greater for the proposed Kimberley site.

“The report cites the distance from the Browse field as a major economic objection to alternative sites, but INPEX has decided to process Browse gas in Darwin, and Woodside Joint Venture partners are still considering piping theirs to Karratha.  Environs Kimberley understands that the Pilbara option would be significantly less costly than setting up a greenfields site in the Kimberley,” said Environs Kimberley Director Martin Pritchard.

Wilderness Society spokesperson Josh Coates commented, “This report shows that almost all of the environmental and other concerns raised about alternative sites, such as lack of on-ground information, infrastructure, social impacts, heritage sites and pollution, would apply equally, or more so, to the James Price Point and Broome area.”

“The joint venture partners Shell, BP, BHP Billiton and Chevron are still considering the Pilbara option, even though the report claims that any proposed ‘greenfield’ site more than 500 km from the gas field is ‘uneconomical’. They are also investigating a possible floating LNG plant,’ said Mr Coates.

“We are now asking the State and Federal governments to conduct a detailed, unbiased comparative environmental assessment of all sites; we believe this would show that the Kimberley is the last place such a development should go.” said Mr Coates.