Greenpeace bid at heart of new Woodside North West Shelf delay
Plibersek’s assessment of the North West Shelf extension relates to its impact on heritage values of the project – namely its impact on the Murujuga rock art on the Burrup peninsula near Woodside’s assets.
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Greenpeace said new evidence had come to light about Browse’s impact on nearby Scott Reef, and Browse’s viability was linked to the North West Shelf extension, therefore they needed to be assessed together.
“To properly assess the serious risk of extending the life of Woodside’s gas processing facility, it is essential that the Environment Minister gives due regard to all available evidence,” Greenpeace said last week.
Conservation Council acting executive director Mia Pepper said without the North West Shelf extension there was no Browse.
“The North West Shelf extension needs to be assessed for what it is: the centrepiece of Woodside’s Burrup Hub, opening up widespread industrialisation of WA’s oceans and iconic Pilbara and Kimberley landscapes,” she said.
“The North West Shelf decision is not just about whether the oldest, dirtiest gas plant in Australia gets its life extended for another half a century; this decision is about whether the government wants to open the floodgates to Woodside drilling for Browse gas around the precious and fragile Scott Reef.”
Industry groups are concerned that by pushing the decision to after the election, Labor may have formed a minority government with the Greens or teals which may heap pressure on Plibersek to reject the project outright.
On Wednesday a Woodside spokeswoman described the delay as “extremely disappointing”.
“We look forward to certainty for ongoing operations, which can support thousands of direct and indirect jobs, billions of dollars in taxes and royalties and secure gas supply to Western Australia,” she said.
Nationals WA leader Shane Love described the decision delay as a “gutless betrayal” of WA’s economic future.
“This is an unacceptable and deliberate hindrance to development, economic prosperity, and job creation in Western Australia – all at the hands of the federal Labor government,” he said.
“The Albanese government is bowing to pressure from the Greens in an attempt to shore up votes ahead of the next federal election, rather than backing a project that is vital to WA’s economy and energy security.”
