Walmadany - James Price Point

6 December 2012

Greens MP Robin Chapple called on the state government to take this opportunity to halt the gas development James Price Point.

The Supreme Court this morning declared the government’s notices to take land at James Price Point invalid.  The notices are invalid because they didn’t actually set out what land was going to be taken.

“This is an example of the Barnett/Grylls government rushing to issue the notices to take land, ignoring basic legal principles, in an effort to force an agreement from Traditional Owners.

“The Chief Justice held that “there was some force” to the argument that the Government’s approach was patronizing – as the Government had argued it was OK to issue a vague notice to take remote Aboriginal lands, but accepted that a notice to take land in the city would need to be properly detailed.

“This government is not a law unto itself – the Barnett/Grylls attitude of development at full speed and any cost must stop.

“Barnett should dismiss Lands Minister Grylls for this appalling process, or take full responsibility himself.

“There must be a complete halt of works at James Price Point. I call on the government to take this opportunity to back away from the unpopular James Price Point Gas hub, concluded Mr Chapple, Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Robin Chapple MLC has welcomed the Western Australian Auditor-General’s report ‘Ensuring Compliance with Conditions on Mining’, saying it confirms what he has been saying for years.

“While much has been made of the mining boom, what is less well known is the poor performance of mining companies when it comes to compliance with environmental requirements,” Mr Chapple said.

“Indeed, it seems that mining companies, assisted by the Department of State Development and the Department of Mining and Petroleum, are making their sizeable profits at the expense of the environment and Indigenous cultural values.

“The main criticism must be directed at the Premier Colin Barnett, who is also the Minister for State Development, and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum Hon Norman Moore for the failure of their departments to ensure monitoring and compliance in several areas including environmental offsets, annual environmental reporting, mines inspections and ensuring adequate mine closure and rehabilitation plans.

“Premier Barnett and Minister Moore must be held to account and explain to the community why, when we are a-wash with money, they cannot do more to protect our environmental and cultural values.

“Other departments were also found lacking, and questions must be asked of the Minister of the Environment Bill Marmion and Minister of Indigenous Affairs Peter Collier about their poor efforts when it comes to monitoring and enforcing compliance.

“As the report notes: ‘heritage sites may have been lost or damaged without the State knowing or acting’.

“We know it has happened as recently as last month when, despite calls to the Registrar of Aboriginal Sites for urgent action to prevent damage to registered sites at James Price Point, nothing happened for an inordinate amount of time.

“Both DIA and the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority must spend more time in the field monitoring the activities of mining companies rather than accepting their reports without scrutiny.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

13 August 2011

The ERA Wholesale Electricity Market report clearly identifies the key issue for the electricity sector is the lack of clear government policy.

“Electricity is an essential public good.  The sector is facing critical challenges right now – an aging distribution network, growing demand, and the pressing need to shift from carbon intensive electricity to renewable electricity.

“Now is the time that we need strong government policy to set the framework for the transition to renewable power – so the sector can deliver it.

“Criticism that spending on renewables is pushing up prices is largely unjustified. The major increase in household power prices is to fund the maintenance of our aging electricity infrastructure, and to meet the very high peak demand times.

“I am pleased to see that the ERA recognizes the importance of a price on carbon.

“It is critical in setting electricity policy that government focuses, not just on efficiency in the sector, but on the shift from carbon polluting electricity to renewable energy.

“The State Government has massive subsidies in support of the fossil fuel industry - $ $124,383,000 on the gas hub at James Price Point, which is projected to emit from 7.1 mtpa CO2 to 32 mtpa CO2 at full production.$8,548,000is committed for Anketell North – projected to emit 10-15 mtpa once it hits production of 25 mtpa of LNG.

“State Government spending on fossil fuel electricity vastly renewables spending.

“Verve has an allocation of $225.5 million over the forward estimates on it’s fossil fuel portfolio – including $88.9 million for Muja power station, where our state is reopening the oldest dirtiest most carbon intensive parts of this power station.  In comparison – Verve has $21.3 million on renewables – completing one windfarm.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

5 July 2011

Greens Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Robin Chapple is troubled by reports of arrests in response to 30 days of peaceful protest aimed at protecting the nature and culture of James Price Point north of Broome.

“Woodside is bringing in bulldozers to clear land at James Price Point. We are concerned that they do so without the approvals required under the Aboriginal Heritage Act, and Department of Indigenous Affairs Compliance Team investigation is still ongoing, and not yet finalised ,” Mr Chapple said.

“I have written to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs about this matter and I call on him now to ensure that Woodside does not proceed to destroy registered Aboriginal heritage sites at James Price Point. It is critical that the Minister ensure his Department is acting properly in this case.

“Woodside is yet to gain approvals from the Federal Environment Minister, and I echo the calls of Greens Senators Rachel Siewert and Scott Ludlam, for the Minister to fulfill the duties of his office and step in to prevent further works before the environmental assessment process is completed,” Mr Chapple said.

Mr Chapple stands in support with the community blockade.

“Contrary to accusations of protesters being trouble-makers, they are community members, including business people from the Broome Chamber of Commerce, Aboriginal women and men, and many other family members who have made Broome their home – these are the people who are blockading James Price Point.

“The blockade organisers have undertaken nonviolence training, and blockade members are committed to nonviolent protest.

“I congratulate the campaigners on this decision, and urge the Police command to ensure that no violence occurs in the Policing operation,” Mr Chapple said.

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

30 June 2011

Today Premier Barnett hosted a photo opportunity signing papers for the James Price Point development. Mr Barnett released a ‘timeline’ of the steps to this historic day.

Greens MP Robin Chapple questioned the Premier’s account saying, “The Premier is whitewashing history, seeking to blot out his government’s betrayal of Aboriginal people, the Broome community and the environment.

“The first betrayal is the Premier's failure to live up to State government’s commitment to properly assess siting the LNG hub in the Pilbara, within existing or alternate industrial precincts.

“A further betrayal is this Government’s role in facilitating Woodside’s bulldozers onto the JPP site before the Commonwealth approvals process has been completed, and while the area is being considered for World Heritage listing.

“The betrayal of Aboriginal people can be seen in the Premier’s own timeline. It confirms that agreement for the project was only achieved after the State government commenced a compulsory acquisition process, to forcibly take the land from the Traditional Owners.

“There is little to celebrate or get excited about today with the signing of these papers, as the project awaits an investment decision from Woodside and its Joint Venture Partners Shell, Chevron, BP and BHP-Billiton. It really is just at the amber light stage.

“On the other hand, there is much to celebrate as the blockade at James Price Point goes from strength to strength, with growing support among the Broome community and across the country.

“The West Australian community has pulled together to save iconic environmental sites before, and I am optimistic that we can do it again to save James Price Point,” Mr Chapple said.

 

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

17 June 2011

Greens MLC Robin Chapple welcomes the Premier’s statement today in support of marine parks and conservation areas in the Kimberley, but is concerned that the Government’s actions speak louder than their words.

“Today as community members blockade the Woodside gas hub site at James Price Point near Broome, no one will be fooled by Premier Barnett’s spin”,  said Mr Chapple MLC, Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region.

“In an excerise of spin, Mr Barnett re-announced  the Kimberley Conservation Strategy today.

“While we are pleased that marine parks and conservation areas are being established in the Kimberley – they don’t provide protection for the Kimberley. There are mining and exploration tenements spread across the marine and land parks.

“The state government is racing to industralise the Kimberley – with proposals for oil and gas extraction, including controversial fracking proposals, mining supported at tourist destinations at the Horizontal Falls and Mitchell Plateau, and new uranium mining proposed along the Ord and Fitzroy River plains.”

At the recent Kimberley Energy and Resources Development Conference, the Department of Mines and Petroleum presented the Government’s view that the Kimberley is a world class mineral province waiting to be developed, with prospects for world class shale gas developments as well.

“Barnett’s claim to have “met the challenge” of conserving the Kimberley is a farce, which the community won’t stand for.

“Mr Barnett should be concerned, as there is a groundswell of community support for genuine protection of the Kimberley, and investment in sustainable economy in the region driven by tourism and local industry.”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

Greens MLC Robin Chapple today slammed Chevron’s plans to expand its massive Gorgon LNG project as a corporate hoodwink of the Barnett Government.

“This is what companies do when they want to push an environmentally unacceptable project,” Mr. Chapple said.

“They tell a government, “We will only develop part A, B, and C of a project” and then when they are entrenched in the development, go ahead with parts D, E, and F.”“

In the case of the Barnett government, it is so gas-mad that it invariably, perhaps even knowingly allows itself to be led up the garden path by the proponent.”

Mr. Chapple also said he feared further degradation of the once-pristine ecology of Barrow Island would be inevitable with such a massive expansion.

“Already we have seen the failed resettlement of endangered species – which were eaten by feral animals once moved onshore from Barrow -, the impact of vessels sinking and colliding with reefs, and the introduction of pest species such as rats and buffel grass.”

“In addition there have been an unacceptable number of critical environmental quarantine breaches with the current project and a poor DEC presence on the island.”

“Picture Barrow Island once four LNG trains are put in place – it will be a shadow of its former self.”

“Shame on Chevron for pulling this stunt, and shame on the Barnett Government for its blithe approach to environmental regulation.”

"The Kimberley should be mindful of this creeping corporate expansion when considering development at James Price Point."

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255

Greens Member for Mining and Pastoral Hon. Robin Chapple MLC has welcomed the news that the Heritage Council has recommended the listing of James Price Point to the Federal Minister for Heritage.

“The extraordinary palaeontological values of James Price Point are well known in the scientific community and well documented,” Mr Chapple said.

“The entire coastline between Cape Leveque and Roebuck Bay, south of Broome, is known to contain ancient dinosaur footprints."

“The world community would lose something unique if an area was to be cut out of the dinosaur super highway for industrial development or for any other purpose.

An expression of concern at the proposal to construct a gas processing hub at James Price Point was sent to the Premier Colin Barnett in September 2009. It was signed by 86 scientists from 16 countries worldwide. All have special interests in vertebrate palaeontology and the terrestrial ecosystems of the Mesozoic Era."

The Premier’s plans to compulsorily acquire land at James Price Point for Woodside’s LNG plant suffered another blow recently, when the Kimberley Land Council lodged an objection to the Government’s Notice of Intent to Take (NOITT) and challenging its validity.

“How can we have any faith in a Premier who takes a bullying approach to land acquisition for a project that many sectors of the community do not support going ahead in the Kimberley.

“Not only that, it now is apparent that his own legal team lacks the expertise to prosecute the actions necessary to make it happen,” Mr Chapple said.

“This bungled action is typical of a Premier who is attempting to push the State headlong into an unsound arrangement.”

For more information please contact Robin Chapple on 0409 379 263 or 9486 8255