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Learn more about our work to protect the Kimberley, in partnership with the Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council.
Kimberley fracking: just hours to act!
Tell Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to assess Black Mountain’s Kimberley fracking project.
You have until Wednesday, 7 August to tell the Environment Minister to assess the “Valhalla” fracking project across the Kimberley—a globally significant cultural landscape.
American company Black Mountain Energy, via its subsidiary Bennett Resources, has just submitted a proposal to the federal government to frack the precious Kimberley region, in Martuwarra / Fitzroy River Catchment.
Its claims the project will have “no significant impact” and does not require federal assessment—despite posing huge risks to threatened species like the greater bilby and northern quoll. In addition, the proposal is within the Martuwarra / Fitzroy River catchment, of which the river and floodplains have been National Heritage-listed for cultural flows, with significant concerns about both surface and groundwater extraction and contamination.
Without an assessment, the Minister cannot reject it—and it will just get waved through, so it’s vital we take action NOW.
Making a submission is easy—here's how:
Head to the government’s EPBC portal linked here.
Provide a title for your comment, here are some suggestions:
-Keep the Kimberley frack free
-Don’t let Black Mountain frack the KimberleyClick ‘YES’ ✅ to ‘Do you consider this is a controlled action?’
Add your reasons below—here are some ideas for key points you can make:
This project should be declared a ‘controlled action’ for its impacts on threatened species habitat of the greater bilby and northern quoll, direct impacts on National Heritage-listed water resources, and undergo a full assessment at the bare minimum.
The project will have unacceptable impacts on the globally significant cultural landscape of the Kimberley, including the cultural flows of the National Heritage-listed Martuwarra / Fitzroy River.
The updated water trigger laws must be applied to this project to ensure a high-quality, independent analysis of the risks to both surface and groundwater.
The risks that fracking poses to water are unacceptable with 100 million litres being wasted per well, and massive volumes of toxic chemicals being pumped underground at high pressures, risking pollution.
Post assessment, this project referral should be rejected outright as the corporation has downplayed impacts. The Federal referral is for just six (6) frack wells, while the expanded production project that was submitted to the WA EPA in 2022 was for 20 frack wells. Neither is indicative of the company’s full plans or impacts. The federal department should rigorously assess the project in its entirety, for cumulative impacts.
We cannot afford any new fossil fuel projects—fossil gas is fuelling the climate crisis and the International Energy Agency (IEA) has made it clear we can’t afford new gas projects if we want to protect communities from extreme climate impacts.
Follow and fill out the prompts, and when you are finished make sure to hit ‘Submit your comment’.
You have until Wednesday, 7 August to make a public comment—so don’t hesitate, make a submission today!
