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‘Trashing the joint’: Alarm grows as oil and gas giant clears the Kimberley
An oil and gas giant’s application to clear more than 1000 additional kilometres of land in the Kimberley will impact some of Western Australia’s most vulnerable species, say conservationists.
If arranged in a line, the land in the state’s far north that Buru Energy has already cleared to explore for gas would stretch around 15,000 kilometres.
Aerial image of seismic lines about 45 kilometres east of Broome. Credit: Damian Kelly
The Environmental Protection Authority will now decide on whether to investigate the additional 1147 kilometres proposed, based on feedback they received from the public.
If approved by the Authority, a report will be prepared for the state government and if it goes ahead, the total land cleared would cover the distance from Perth to Narsaq in Greenland.
The clearing of land would be for seismic surveys, which involves clearing grids to make way for machinery to identify pockets of oil and gas.
Lock the Gate Alliance WA referred the clearing to the EPA, said coordinator Claire McKinnon, saying the “scale of the destruction is mind-boggling.”
“For a single company to have cleared so much native vegetation in a place as precious and fragile as the Kimberley is utterly unacceptable,” she said.
“The WA government is promoting the beauty of the Kimberley in ads being broadcast across the country right now, yet away from glossy TV commercials and billboards on the east coast, it is giving Buru permission to trash the joint.
“Vulnerable species like the greater bilby and northern brushtail possum have previously been recorded in the area Buru intends to clear.
“Australia’s extinction crisis is well publicised. Governments should not be granting approvals to oil and gas companies that threaten already struggling species, particularly at a time when the world must transition away from fossil fuels to mitigate the most terrifying impacts of the climate crisis.”
Lock the Gate Alliance protestors at the September 6 “Good Oil and Gas” conference in Perth, which Buru Energy representatives attended.
A state government spokesperson said it was inappropriate for them to make any comment with the proposal still under investigation.
McKinnon said rival company Origin had announced it would exit its Kimberley tenements, and encouraged Buru Energy to do the same.
Environs Kimberley director Martin Pritchard echoed McKinnon’s concerns about the vulnerable species that could be impacted by the further clearing.
He said, as far as he was aware, since its inception in 2008 Buru Energy had cleared the most land for seismic surveys out of all the oil and gas companies across the Kimberley.
Vulnerable bilbies could be impacted by the clearing of land.Credit: Damian Kelly
“A lack of vegetation makes it easier for feral animals to prey on native animals, with nowhere to hide and nothing to intercept the feral species chasing them,” Pritchard said
“The unfortunate thing is that none of this is being monitored, so we have no idea exactly how these species are being impacted. It is a great weakness in WA’s land clearing laws.
“The Kimberley is the most intact tropical savannah in the world and it needs to be protected.”
Petrochemical plant could be the next hurdle
McKinnon voiced concerns over a recent document Buru Energy released showing plans to potentially build a petrochemical plant north of Broome.
Pritchard said the plant would be “hugely polluting,” with Buru Energy not the only company with plans to build one in the area.
“Buru Energy has put forward plans to clear land in the Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment. Its ultimate aim is to develop oil and gas fields to supply a petrochemical factory and export fossil fuels through a pipeline to the Pilbara,” he said.
“This type of industry is not compatible with a clean and green Kimberley, which has a $500 million tourism industry based on intact landscapes and cultural experiences.”
But a Buru Energy spokeswoman said the company had “a history of responsible development in the Kimberley.”
“All of Buru’s surveys are planned to avoid sensitive areas following on ground environmental surveys and heritage surveys with Native Title groups,” she said.
“The extent of our seismic surveys represents approximately 0.1 per cent of vegetation present in the region with annual monitoring showing that vegetation typically recovering within two to four years.
“At all times, Buru has conducted its activities in accordance with the stringent laws and regulations that govern exploration and production activities, and has always prioritised the protection of health and safety, the environment and cultural heritage in the areas where the company operates.”
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