Our oceans targeted by world's biggest oil and gas companies

Today’s announcement of the results of the Federal government’s annual lottery of our marine environment has been condemned by environment groups.

Areas in the pristine Kimberley, and close to Ningaloo Reef, Shark Bay and the Abrolhos Islands have all been chosen by the Federal Government for targeting by the world’s biggest oil and gas companies. It is the biggest acreage release in a decade.

Companies like BP and PTTEP now have the opportunity to bid for petroleum rights over vast areas of the marine environment in the gas-to-riches rush along Western Australia’s coastline.

Wilderness Society spokesperson, Peter Robertson said, “LNG production is a dirty and damaging industry that contributes significantly to climate change. While the industry is busy in Perth this week pitching a ‘clean, green’ image, the facts should speak for themselves.

1.     Extracting and processing gas to LNG causes significant routine pollution of the marine environment – which should not be allowed in WA’s most prisitine marine areas;

2.     One of the biggest oil spills in Australia’s history occurred off the Kimberley coast. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the Federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson, has allowed Woodside to partner with offending company PTTEP and commence another drilling operation.

3.     The proposed Kimberley gas hub, if it proceeds, would account for around 5 per cent of Australia's domestic greenhouse gas emissions. That’s one project alone!

4.     The Gorgon project at Barrow Island has not been a ‘success’. An A Class Nature Reserve has been turned into a huge industrial port and shipping facility. Threatened species translocated by helicopter with much fanfare have since died on the mainland due to feral animal predation.

5.     China is by far the world’s biggest investor in renewable energy. According to the Prime Minister, China is building a wind turbine every hour. Replacing a fossil fuel (coal) with another fossil fuel (LNG) is not the answer to climate change.

“Not only is LNG dirty, but exploration is being opened up in marine environments that are incredibly rich and too globally important to put at risk. Areas in the Kimberley released today are currently under consideration for marine park protection by the Federal Government. Minister Ferguson should not be pre-empting this protection and allowing oil and gas companies into known habitat for endangered whales and turtles.

“Currently less than 1% of WA’s marine environment is fully protected. We know the devastating impact that oil spills have on marine life. The Government needs be truthful about the scale of damage and pollution from LNG, and deliver on protection for our marine life.”