Climate advocates have been left devastated by the federal government's decision to sign off on an extension of Australia's largest oil and gas project until 2070, describing it as a "dark day".
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| Federal environment minister Murray Watt has approved the decision to extend Woodside's North West Shelf project. (ABC News: Keane Bourke) |
Approval was granted under strict conditions, which the gas giant has 10 days to review and accept.
A swathe of scientists have raised concerns about the project, including the impact of emissions on the environment and ancient Aboriginal rock art at the nearby Murujuga Cultural Landscape.
UN recommendation
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| Ms Rollins is concerned about the climate change ramifications. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) |
"We know that this approval is going to be responsible for billions of tonnes of carbon emissions emitted into our atmosphere," she said.
"This state is going to suffer the most and this project is going to disproportionately drive climate change and make it even worse."
Senator Watt's announcement came just hours after a bid to have the petroglyphs at Murujuga added to the World Heritage list stalled over concerns about the effect emissions were having on the priceless rock art.
The UN recommended the government inform it of the intention to authorise major projects which may affect the "outstanding universal value" of the Murujuga site.
And a leading scientist expressed "grave concern" about "unacceptable interference" in a study of the potential impacts of emissions on the rock carvings.
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| Greens MP Sophie McNeill says the decision left her 'speechless'. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) |
"The
UN World Heritage listing of Murujuga's rock art is under threat from
Woodside industrial emissions," she said.
"That's the breaking news that came out from UNESCO just this morning, and what we've seen is federal Labour rush to get this decision out before the news about UNESCO does the rounds.
"This is a devastating, dark day and I know there will be many parents like myself tonight having to tell my kids what happened today.
"We're just so devastated by this news, we're kind of speechless."
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| The Environment Minister Murray Watt has given Woodside the green light to extend the life of the Karratha Gas Plant. (ABC News: Charlie Mclean) |
'See you in court'
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| Ms Cooper opposes the approval. (ABC News: Keane Bourke) |
Her court application had argued Woodside's industrial developments on the Burrup Peninsula pose a threat to thousands of Aboriginal petroglyphs.
"See you in court," she said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I'm not on my own, I'm bringing warriors from this ngurra [home] with me."
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| Kaylene Daniel campaigned against an extension to the North West Shelf gas project on the Burrup Peninsula, and said she wouldn't give up the fight. (ABC News: Charlie Mclean) |
"Because all through those years that me, my family and others out there have talked about this place, protected this place Murujuga," she said.
"Murujuga meant so much to us."
Ms
Daniel described Murujuga as "like a library" full of First Nations
stories, songlines and rock art and said she would not give up fighting
to protect her country.
"I can't give up, it's not for me to give up, my family didn't give up," she said.
"I'm still going to speak out for this country, because this country is important, it's sacred and it's been passed on to me.
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| A crowd of protesters gathered outside Woodside Energy's annual general meeting in Perth earlier this month. (ABC News: Keane Bourke) |
He said there were merits to using gas as a transitional fossil fuel on the path to greater renewable use, but said the world already had enough of it for this purpose.
"We don't need any more gas to be developed," he said.
Mr Hillman also questioned if the project was in the best interests of Woodside shareholders.
"We don't see a compelling business case for Woodside to invest in any of the gas that would feed North West Shelf," he said.
Woodside reviewing approval
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| Ms O'Neill says Woodside was working closely with the government to understand the impact of its emissions. (ABC News: Elizabeth Pickering) |
"The conditions relate to heritage and air quality, so our team is working through with the department to understand what the conditions mean, and we will respond and work with the department in coming days," she said.
Addressing concerns around potential emissions damage to cultural heritage sites, Ms O'Neill said Woodside believed "industry and heritage can coexist".
"We've worked very closely with the government over many years to understand what sort of emissions might cause an impact," she said.
Publican relieved
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| Mr Bond feels common sense has prevailed. (ABC News: Charlie Mclean) |
"It's going to give security and financial backing to the country for a long, long time to come," he said.
"It gives us the security we need to be able to invest in new accommodation, new infrastructure and make our asset better for the community.
"The whole country's going to benefit from this decision."
Karratha local Elise Murray took a different view.
"I've lived there, I've grown up there, it's a beautiful place to be," the 18-year-old said.
"To put it at risk by focusing on the money that it will bring in — obviously it's amazing that it'll build so many jobs for local people, but if you're ruining the environment in the first place, you're not going to have enough people that want to live there by the end of it."
"It's really important that we look after the area and focus on a more renewable energy source."
- Pilbara Traditional Owner launches Federal Court bid to block North West Shelf approval – ABC News article on Raelene Cooper's legal challenge.
- Woodside Energy Annual General Meeting draws protest – Coverage of protests during the AGM in Perth.
- North West Shelf Project Extension Approved Until 2070 – Announcement of the project’s federal environmental approval.
- Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill: Industry and Heritage Can Coexist – Statement on emissions and Indigenous heritage impacts.
- Alex Hillman Criticizes Gas Expansion Plans – Commentary by former Woodside climate advisor on the project’s economics.
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