ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO APPEAL EPA DECISION ON KIMBERLEY LAND CLEARING

Cleared grid lines. Photo by Damian Kelly. Image supplied by Martin Prichard.

Kimberley environmentalists are concerned by the WA Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA) decision to not assess a land clearing proposal in the West Kimberley region.

Buru Energy plans to clear over a thousand kilometers of native vegetation to conduct geological surveys for gas.

Environs Kimberley Director Martin Prichard said the Authority’s refusal to carry out the assessment was disappointing.

‘‘We’re very disappointed that the EPA has decided they won’t be assessing this proposal because at a minimum we expect the Government and Independent Authorities like the EPA to review what’s being proposed,’’ he said.

‘‘There are lots of threatened species there, it’s a very special place not far from the Fitzroy River, so we’re really really disappointed this has happened.’’

‘‘We will definitely be appealing this decision by the Environmental Protection Authority. That’s at this stage our next step’’.

In deciding not to carry out the assessment, the EPA said it considered the potential impact (including cumulative impacts) of the proposal on flora and vegetation, but that the likely environmental effects were ‘‘not so serious’’ given the proposed exploration would only last 10 weeks during the dry season and within daylight hours.

The EPA also took into account that the clearing process would involve raised blade scraping, which does not completely remove vegetation.

EPA noted that Buru Energy has a Native Title and Heritage Protection Agreement with the Nyikina Mangala Native Title Group.

Appeals to this decision will close on the 20th of February 2023.