Kimberley hub faces new challenges
OPPOSITION continues to build against the planned Kimberley liquefied natural gas hub with an international shareholder campaign and the loss of support from traditional owners emerging as the latest threats.
Environmental groups are reported to be planning an international shareholder campaign targeting Woodside Petroleum, Chevron, Shell, BHP Billiton and BP to stop their planned Browse LNG development, which will be sited at the Kimberley hub.
The campaign, similar to the campaign that stalled Gunns’ proposed pulp mill in Tasmania, has won the support of Telstra director Geoffrey Cousins who also played a role in the Gunns campaign.
“The idea of big corporations being involved in a process that involves them being beneficiaries of land that is compulsorily acquired from native people is an issue that's likely to resonate around the world,” The Age quoted Cousins as saying.
“This is a world issue. The Kimberley is one of the last great wilderness areas of the world.”
Meanwhile, the Kimberley Land Council, which had initially supported the project as a way of bringing jobs and essential services to the region, said there was a chance it would withdraw its support.
“There's going to be a big meeting next week and I kind of think we're on the knife edge of splitting either way,” KLC chief executive officer Wayne Bergmann said.
He added he had calls from traditional owners who were upset about Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett’s decision to start formal compulsory acquisition proceedings for the land where the hub would be located.
Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Robin Chapple blasted Barnett’s decision, saying it was inappropriate for the premier to override the interests of the indigenous people in the area when they did not agree with him, or failed to comply with his ultimatum.
“His actions will only put more pressure on an already disadvantaged sector of the community. Some would call that a bullying tactic,” Chapple said.
“Likewise, it is unacceptable for the premier to put at risk the environment and local tourism industry, thereby riding roughshod over the concerns of conservationists, local tourism operators and the Broome Shire Council.”
Monday, 6 September 2010
PetroleumNews.net
http://www.petroleumnews.net/StoryView.asp?StoryID=1139889
