The Kimberley gas refinery 'Draft Strategic Assessment Report' is out!

The Draft Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) for the proposed Kimberley gas refinery and industrial port was publicly released by the WA State Government on Monday, 13 December - just before Christmas.

James Price Point, Kimberley coast, Western Australia. Photo by Glenn Walker

The public submission period for commenting on the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) is open until 8th March 2011. In the coming weeks we will be providing a comprehensive analysis of the report with the assistance of leading scientists and experts.

In the meantime, you can make a formal submission on the report right now! - it only takes a minute click here >>

If you would like to write your own submission, join our Kimberley e-bulletin list to receive easy to read information about how to write your submission.

The Wilderness Society is concerned about major omissions and evasions in the SAR. This is our preliminary assessment:

The alarming raw numbers:

1. Up to three massive gas refineries each with their own port facilities

2. Up to 14 pipelines (between James Price Point and the offshore gas platforms)

3. Clearing of 3,000 hectares of native bushland, including 130 hectares of rare ‘monsoon vine thicket’ – with a further 400 hectares of vine thicket at risk from groundwater draw-down

4. A massive breakwater extending for kilometers out to sea (but no detail on exact size or location)

5. Removal of 1.5 kilometers of shoreline at James Price Point – “localised coastal re-adjustment”

6. Creation of a 25 square kilometer ‘marine dead zone’ resulting from dredging and other impacts

7. 21 million cubic meters of sea bed dredging – in the initial dredging ‘campaign’

8. Up to 2,700 shipping movements per annum – in an area described by the Commonwealth as ‘critical habitat’ for calving Humpback whales

9. Between 12 and 40 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per annum – an increase of 15-50% on WAs current total annual emissions

10. Up to 24 billion litres of freshwater extraction per year from local groundwater aquifers.

Other major concerns:

The SAR is a very flawed and incomplete document. It should not have been released for public comment when so much information is missing.

1. The SAR fails to include the study of feasible alternative sites outside the Kimberley as required under the Strategic Assessment Agreement (2008)

2. The SAR is very evasive on the issue of the length, location and design of the massive breakwater and associated shipping channel dredging:

“The construction of the breakwater would most likely involve dredging works…If required, the length and orientation would be governed by the site location and port facility layout…A range of options would be considered for establishment of the breakwater…Details of the dredging campaign are yet to be finalised…” (SAR Part 3, p2-19; Part 2, p5-24)

3. Several other vital studies are not included in the SAR because, according to the WA EPA they are “not yet complete”: Marine waste discharge; Oil spill modeling; Marine benthic primary producer habitat; Coastal processes (Ref: EPA covering letter, 9/12/2010)

4. Use of freshwater aquifers:

“A number of options [for groundwater abstraction] are currently under investigation…groundwater abstraction for construction and operation of the LNG precinct may result in mid to long term groundwater drawdown.” (SAR Part 4, p2-31)

The Wilderness Society is calling on you to have your say on this proposal and help us save James Price Point and the Kimberley from massive, polluting and unnecessary development. In the meantime, please join our Kimberley e-bulletin to receive easy to read information about how to write your submission.

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