15th January, 2013

Woodside’s application for Section 18 approval to damage heritage sites and drill in country to the west of Manari Road has been approved by the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Peter Collier.

At a gathering today outside Woodside’s Offices in Broome, an indigenous spokeswoman, wanted it made clear that these areas were not just heritage sites but “Burial Sites”. How would most people feel if they dug up a cemetery?

Martin Pritchard, Director of Environs Kimberley, had this to say. It’s an outrageous decision because of all the previous decisions that have been made around James Price Point, going back to 1962 when it was first proposed as a National Park.

Again in 1989, the WA Museum recommended that the area be protected. The Environmental Protection Authority have said on 2 occasions that it should be protected and yet we have this decision.

It’s not really surprising, given that the proponent is the State Government and they want the world’s largest gas refinery up at James Price Point.