FIGHT AGAINST WOODSIDE’S SCARBOROUGH GAS SET TO CONTINUE

Josie Alec and Raelene Cooper at the first ‘Save Our Songlines’ protest in November 2021.

Kuruma Marthudunera woman Josie Alec has told Ngaarda Media she is determined to continue to oppose new industry at Murujuga, including Woodside’s Scarborough development.

Woodside plans to build its Scarborough gas project around 400 km off the coast of Karratha. 

Gas from the Scarborough development would be processed at the proposed Pluto Train 2 development on Murujuga at the Burrup Peninsula. 

Woodside had a significant win in court this week, defeating a legal challenge from the Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) against the WA government’s decision to give the project environmental approvals.

CCWA argued the environmental impacts of the project had not been given proper consideration, but Justice Jeremy Allanson rejected the legal challenge.

As a Traditional Owner of Murujuga, Ms Alec was disappointed to hear of the Supreme Court decision.

“We’re pretty disappointed in the Government’s decision and the law system at the moment, especially with everything that’s going on with climate change,” she said.

“Putting another big monster on our country, especially on the most sacred rocks in the whole wide world, is pretty disgusting.”

Ms Alec is concerned that emissions from industry on the Burrup are wearing away at the Murujuga rock art. Woodside claims there is no evidence gas plant emissions are impacting the rock art, however scientists dispute this claim.

Woodside told Ngaarda Media the company would not disturb any new land to build Pluto Train 2, and would not move any new rock art sites for this development.

Woodside plans to provide gas from Scarborough to a Perdaman urea development which would sit alongside it on the Burrup Peninsula.

Ms Alec said at least three cultural heritage sites would be removed to make way for the Perdaman project.

She is also concerned about the climate impacts of the Woodside project. 

“This is a world catastrophe at the moment” she said.

“Climate change is on our doorstep. We all know about it. We’ve had 50 degree days. We’re the ones that live in this weather.

“The people at the top are living high and mighty and getting their bills paid by these companies, in the air-conditioning every day, when our families in communities can hardly even pay for electricity to even put an air conditioner on.”

According to climate scientist Bill Hare of Climate Analytics, the Scarborough/Pluto 2 development would create 1.37 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and is inconsistent with plans to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

Woodside claims on its website the greenhouse gas emissions would total 878 megatonnes.

Alec and other Traditional Owners from the group “Save Our Songlines” are planning a protest march at Murujuga on March 13. They are inviting the community to join them at Hearsons Cove from 8.30 am for breakfast, before marching on Country.

“We’re going to have some songs and show some solidarity to the Country,” Alec said.

“We’ll have some Elders there talking about their experience and go out with our hearts to show the Country that we care about it.”

In a statement, Maggie Wood, Executive Director of CCWA, said the Council was “disappointed” by the Supreme Court result.

“The Scarborough proposal will bring dangerous levels of carbon and methane pollution, accelerate climate damage and have a serious impact on the prevalence of extreme weather events, like bushfires.,” she said.

“Today’s decision does not change these facts and we remain opposed to this damaging proposal.”

In their own statement, Woodside said they welcomed the court decision, and continue to move forward with plans for Scarborough, Pluto 2 and an interconnector between Karratha Gas Plant and the Pluto facility.