Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Even the sky knows the sins of the earth



While, watching some Oyster Catches fishing and enjoying their surroundings, this morning in the proposed location for the LNG Gas Precinct, near Broome, Redhand was thinking where will these birds go if the proposal goes ahead. It was then, that it really hit home to redhand.

Everything, all the birds, plants, insects’, reptiles, whales, turtles, the reefs and their corals, everything will be totally destroyed, the freshest of air polluted, the peace and quiet shattered, everything will go. They will: chain huge sways of country, they will burn, cut, blowup and eradicate country and execute the reefs of all living things. They will annihilate country and then it will be all consumed.

So what is the real point of an Environmental Assessment? Is it to record what was here? Is it to understand what they (our State government) intends to exterminate off the face of the earth? In the end, it will be the environment, the planet and the atmosphere that has to absorb the full brunt of these factual impacts.

It’s very similar to Social Impact Assessments. I was under the delusion that social impacts were something we try to identify and then try to avoid, but apparently they are about identifying and then managing them. Managed by whom? Well, just like the Oyster Catches, we will have to manage it. It will be the community, we have to deal with it, like it or lump it that’s what social impacts mean to the current state government. They implement and impose and we, as the Broome community have no other alternative than to deal with the social, economic and environmental fall outs. This is on top of the impacts we as a community are currently struggling to manage, at the best of times!.

Even if Woodside does not go ahead with their proposed LNG gas precinct, at Quondong, on the Kimberley coast, the current State Government are fully adamant on making the area site ready, free of all obstructions and impediment s. So, if in the future another company comes along, all the necessary assessments and approvals are already obtained or cleared and Broome, as a community will continue to have no say in it, at all.

“We, (the State Government) are going ahead with this site” “We have banked it!” quote Gary Simmons, from the Department of State Development, Broome Chamber of Commerce Meeting, Mangrove, Broome, Wednesday 17th June.

Apparently, the State Government is not only looking at the proposed LNG Gas Precinct on the Kimberley coast to process the Browse Basin gas, but according to Gary “There is a lot of gas out in the Canning Basin, we will need to process it.”

At the same meeting, we were informed by Andrea Jardine Orr, the social impact assessor, at the very same meeting “that the workforce will be fenced within the precinct and that there will be no leakages.” She went on to say that compiling all the necessary assessments is like “Putting all the ducks in a row.” Unfortunately, they are not proposing to build a duck pond.

Middens



These Middens are within the area of the proposed LNG Gas precinct near Quondong as described in the Scope Strategic Assessment doc, page 35, area marked B, 60 kms from Broome on the Kimberely coast.

A Midden is a place where there is an accumulation of shell refuse that is derived from exploitation of a mollusc resource by Aboriginal people. Such sites may also contain artefacts, fireplaces, burnt shell and bones.
Therefore, at least two of the following pieces of evidence are required to establish that the accumulation of shells is of Aboriginal origin:
• Presence of charcoal, burnt wood, blackened shells, hearths.
• Presence of bones of other edible species.
• Presence of artefactual material.
• Presence of layers indicating cultural rather than natural deposition.
• Evidence that the shell fish have been exploited by human beings, e.g., broken open backs, edible size.
• Demonstrable selection of edible, mature, shell fish species.
• Ethnographic and/or historical evidence related to the accumulated shell refuse.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Photochemicals Emissions

A major concern for Comparative Analysis of the Feasibility of Alternative Locations for the Development of a Liquefied Natural Gas Precinct Jan (2009) report is that the airshed (air quality) both locally and regionally. LNG liquifiaction trains emit significant quantities of nitrogen oxide and volatile organics.

What are the dangers?

Photochemical smog can have an effect on the environment, on people’s health and even on various materials.

Plants
Chemicals such as nitrogen oxides, ozone and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) can have harmful effects on plants. These substances can reduce or even stop growth in plants by reducing photosynthesis. Ozone, even in small quantities, can achieve this, but PAN is even more toxic to plants than ozone.

Health
The biggest concern about photochemical smog is the effect it has on people’s health. The effects of the major primary and secondary pollutants in smog are given.

Health effects of pollutants involved in photochemical smog

Nitrogen oxides • can contribute to problems with heart and lungs
• links to decreased resistance to infection

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) • eye irritation
• respirator problems
• some compounds are carcinogens

Ozone • coughing and wheezing
• eye irritation
• respiratory problems (particularly for conditions such as
asthma)

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN)
• eye irritation
• respiratory problems

According to the Wosley Parsons report (2008) it clearly states a piece of land will be required to accommodate up the 10 LNG trains. Redhand believes that this amount of trains, their emissions and pollution concentrations will well exceed the National Environmental Protection Measures. Again, Hands Off Country will be bringing you more information regarding the emissions as we piece our way through the Strategic Assessment Report Scoping document.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Redhand questions the process when it begins by failing to adhere to the Terms of Reference from the start.


Was the community of Broome aware that a Scope of Strategic Assessment Report has been released?

Has any individual seen a Public Notice published in the Broome Advertiser, the Western Australian or even ‘The Australian’ about the Draft Report being released?
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Part 10 Strategic Assessments Section 146 (1) Agreement which was made between the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts on behalf of the Australian Government and the Western Australian Ministers for State Development and the Environment & Climate Change. Section 6.3 The WA Government shall provide the Draft Report for public comment by Notice:

a) Posted on the Western Australian Government website; and
b) Published in a newspaper(s) circulating nationally, in Western Australia and locally in the Kimberley.

The Notice must advise that the Draft Report is available and how copies may be obtained, provide contact details, invite public comments on the Draft Report and set a period of 28 days within which comment must be received.

Additionally Section 6.4 of the same Agreement states the signatories will make copies of the Notice and Draft Report available electronically through their websites.

We call on the above Departments to immediately follow the Agreement and look into and publicly report why the process has failed to date.

The Scope of Strategic Assessment Report can be obtained from this site until the following above mentioned errors of judgment, over sights, has been rectified?

More on the contents of the Scoping document to come.

When is the Broome community going to have its say regarding the proposed Gas Precinct at Quondong?

Are the communities of the Kimberley aware that currently there is a "Social Studies and Investigation Program" being compiled by Andrea Jardine Orr representing the Western Australian Government’s Department of State Development? This program is a requirement to proceed as part of a process known as a Strategic Assessment (SA). This SA is being prepared for the National Environment Minister Hon Peter Garrett to assess, with other documentation and reports, the proposed gas precinct at Quondong, (Murrdudun).

Andrea Jardine Orr , meets with the Broome Shire for a confidential briefing and with the Chamber of Commerce, however members of the Broome community are yet to have any opportunity to have their say, concerns or questions addressed? Why hasn’t this consultant exercised professional protocol by introducing herself to the community, informing the community about the study and its purpose? Why does it feel like the Broome community, its lifestyle, its heritage and its future is being treated with obvious irrelevance? It is as if this community, its very essence is totally inconsequential and insignificant?

The Broome Community and residents are listed within the Scope of Strategic Assessment Report as stakeholders to be consulted unlike the Broome Shire Council who are not named. As stated in an earlier blog, the WA government is under contract with the Federal Government and is therefore legally obligated to ensure that the Broome community and its residents are kept informed and consulted and that certain timelines and milestones are met. This is not happening and Redhand, again calls on the Federal Government to investigate and rectify this situation as soon as possible, on the behalf of the Broome community.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

PDF FILES

Hi everyone, the PDF documents page has been updated, go and chek:

http://www.xperts.it/REDHAND/pdf.html

Saturday, June 13, 2009

I can't see you torn apart


Jabirr Jabirr traditional owners signing a Heads of Agreement with the Premier Colin Barnett and Woodside Chief Executive Don Voelte at James Price Point, the area we have been told is the location for the proposed Kimberley LNG hub. Goolarabooloo the Native Title Claim Group, who currently have a Native Title application lodged with the Federal Court waiting determination, refused to attend or sign off their country, heritage or their culture. Until there is a determination handed down no one has the legal right to sign anything.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Real Location for the Proposed Kimberley Gas Hub



This diagram can be found in the Kimberley LNG Precinct Strategic Assessment document page 81. It quite clearly shows that the area proposed for industrialisation is not Walmadan (James Prices Point) but is
A = Kundandu, B = Murrdudun and C = Murrjal all located at Quondong Point. This following video shows the area due west from Murrjal at both the high and low tides.



Very wide intertidal sand flats are a feature of the open ocean shores of the Dampier Peninsula.During low spring tides these flats can be greater than a kilometre wide. Sediment composition on the flats ranges from fine, silty sand near shore, to coarse, shelly rubble in areas of strong tidal flow.Few aquatic plants occur on these flats, however sparse occurrences of seagrasses do occur in
shallow pools (CALM 1994). These intertidal flats are rich in invertebrates, with a high density and diversity of bivalve molluscs and other burrowing infauna. The outer edge of these flats support soft corals and sponges (CALM 1994). Hands Off country, Standing Up for the Planet

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do!


John Bulter, Walmadan Heritage Concert, Broome.

People can change things, they are the only ones that can.

The community of Broome should not feel like you are being rail roaded, invaded or dictated too by multinational company or bullied by government. This is your community, your lifestyle and your children's future.

Red Hand questions why the Strategic Assessment document has only been provided to selected stakeholders, has not be posted on any of the State government's Web sites nor have copies been made available to the general public.

Where, when and who is undertaking the Social Impact Study, which according to the Kimberley LNG Precinct - (Scoop) of Strategic Assessment document's time line should be underway now. Members of the public are listed within this same document as Key Stakeholders but have you have heard anything? Do you feel like you are being kept in the dark? Are your rights to express your ideas, concerns or have some of your questions answered being sidelined?

In accordance with the industry guidelines for community involvement (DoE 2003),A consultation program should continue throughout the assessment process as a two-way flow of communication between government as the Precinct Proponent, industry Proponents and stakeholders. As stated in the Scoop Document, p179 "This will assist in identifying significant environmental and social issues and will enable an open, transparent and comprehensive exchange of information and views."

According to the Scoping Document for Strategic Assessment 13.3 Consultation Program it is clearly stated that Stakeholder consultation will be a continuing activity for the Kimberley LNG Precinct.The consultation program will be framed around key milestones for the assessment, and be provided by various means including briefings, community meetings, published material, web sites and other communication methods appropriate to the target audience. None of these activities (various means)have been undertaken.

These consultations were to take place in March - May 200 so as to inform and seek input from key stakeholders:State/Cwth Govt, Traditional Owners, NGOs, Industry, General Public of assessment process and the studies and investigations proposed to support the Strategic Assessment.

There has been no consultation, members of the Broome Community and the general public have not been informed about the development plans and decisions or have they been given the opportunity to contribute input.

Whale shape, Cable Beach, Broome



This photo was taken at Cable Beach as part of National Whale Day and Broome's Whale Festive. Many people gathered to celebrate their love of whales, as well as draw attention to some of the threats they face today, like whaling, climate change, ship strikes, ocean noise and LNG Gas Hubs and all their associated rubbish.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Whale Festival

Click on the Picture to enlarge


Sunday, June 7, 2009

Whale Festival

Redand @ Kimberley Whale Festival





Thursday, June 4, 2009

Kimberley Whale Festival

Click on the picture to enlarge