Botanist questions thickets clearing - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Botanist questions thickets clearing - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):
The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) is investigating whether a transport company illegally bulldozed vegetation near the Broome Port.

Broome resident Louise Middleton says an area of land leased by Toll Mermaid has been recently cleared of monsoon vine thickets.

Weeks ago, the Commonwealth listed the thickets as endangered.

Ms Middleton says the clearing of native vegetation require a permit to clear and she has accused the company of acting illegally.

"You have to advertise to get a permit and ask for public comment," she said.

"That wasn't undertaken and according to the DEC website and my own investigation proves they do not have any native vegetation clearing permits."

The game continues but our resolve remains strong

The Wilderness Society legal case against EPA, with co-applicant Richard Hunter, is slowly progressing.  Almost all affidavits etc have been filed and served.  The next 'directions hearing' is likely in Supreme Court on 8th April (was supposed to be tomorrow but that's been adjourned).  Issue of Woodside's involvement not yet resolved - will be determined by Chief Justice. Pro bono barrister Dr Hannes Schoombee has done a mountain of work on this case.
 
Collective lobbying of Burke has been intense and involves calls on him to reject the WA 'strategic assessment', prevent Woodside's imminent dune-drilling operation, and hold an inquiry under the EPBC Act on multiple documented grounds including:

1. Recent listing of Monsoon Vine Thicket (MVT) as 'endangered' under EPBC Act;
2. Previous EPA assessments (1990 and 1991) recommending AGAINST development in this same area due, explicitly, to monsoon vine thickets, dinosaur fossils and Indigenous heritage values;
3. EPA's seriously misleading statements in its 2008 Section 16(e) advice on potential gas hub sites in the Kimberley, which claimed there is no MVT at JPP (there is!); no previous conservation reserve proposals for the area (there have been several!), and failing to mention dinosaur tracks at all;
   
4. Failure to address Indigenous heritage issues;
5. Failure to address social impacts;
6. The fact there has been NO ASSESSMENT of plans to dump all the gas hub's dredge spoil in Commonwealth waters off JPP - right where DSD and Barnett say is the main Humpback whale migration area.  The EPA said it had not assessed this because it is "outside our jurisdiction". This is key as Burke has to specifically approve any permit application to dump anything in Commonwealth waters;
   
7. Greenhouse gas emissions changes - Minister Marmion's dropping of EPA's proposed GHG abatement conditions - due to alleged 'duplication' of Cwth abatement measures;
   
8. New whale information from community survey showing far more whales in waters close to JPP than DSD and Woodside have reported/admitted;
9. National Heritage-listed dinosaur tracksites - latest research showing JPP even richer in tracksites than previously recognised.
   

Despite having all this evidence laid before him, in correspondence and in person, it is unclear still when he will make his decision and what it may be - anything from straight up "Yes", to calling for much more and better info, to flat out "No".

We are now running up against timing of two other key factors: The joint venture partner's 'Final Investment Decision' due end June, and the Federal election campaign.

If Woodside enter the sand dunes through the Monsoonal Vine Thickets they will be acting out side the law

Woodside's proposed drilling regime in the Songline and Monsoonal Vine Thickets. Note that the line pen lines are the tracks that Woodside illegally carved into the dunes, uncovering bones, driving through middens and other cultural significant places. go to to see how Woodside have already damaged sites. http://youtu.be/3M0uNwX-snQ

 Because the Federal Government has just listed the Monsoonal Vine Thickets, located on the coastal sand dunes of Dampier Peninsula as threatened ecological communities, Woodside is required by law to refer their planned works in the sand dunes to the Feds because of this Listing. 

Until Tony Burke makes a decision on the SAR, Woodside can not touch a leaf within the Thicket and approval for these destructive works needs to be obtained. 

This is how much Monsoonal Vine thicket will be destroyed with Woodside get their way.

Woodside's planned drilling program in the proposed southern pipeline, within weeks.

In addition to this a Native Vegetation Clearing Permit (as stated in their Development Assessment approval) needs to be obtained from the Department of Environment and Conservation. Again, with this Listing, DEC will have great difficulty granting this. To date neither of these approvals have been obtained or applied for. Woodside can not undertake any work that may impact on the Vine Thickets' threatened ecological community.                                   Carving several 5 to 8 metres tracks through the largest Monsoonal Vine Thicket community on the peninsula at James Price Point, and numerous bore and investigation holes will undoubtedly have a massive impact on this endangered ecological community. 

Woodside's proposed southern pipeline

However,this cunning corporation could approach this proposed drilling program in the dunes by sea as they have stated in earlier planning documents. Woodside has referred to the conditions in the intertidal region being unsuitable for the safe operation of a jack up barge. Therefore, they state that another type of rig will need to be used instead. This could be either an amphibious vehicle, beachlanding craft, or a land based drill rig (truck), depending on the suitability of access to the test sites, in the sand dune system. If an amphibious vehicle or beach landing craft is used it is likely to be towed or transported to location on a barge. Alternatively the amphibious vehicle/beach landing craft could be driven to location and deployed from the landward side. If a land based drill rig (truck) is used it will be driven to the test sites via the tracks through the heart of the Thickets themselves.

HEADING - 18.03.2013 Notice of 2013 Annual General Meeting.pdf

HEADING - 18.03.2013 Notice of 2013 Annual General Meeting.pdf: ASX
Announcement
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Woodside’s 2013 Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 24 April 2013 at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre, 21 Mounts Bay Road, Perth, Western Australia at 10.00 am

Woodside and protesters on collision course at James Price Point - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Woodside and protesters on collision course at James Price Point - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation:
"We don't care if we have to go to prison. We're going to stand up and protect what rightfully belongs to us and what's buried up on the sand dunes." Phillip Roe

Tear the beating heart out of many of us

Facebook entry, name with held.

THIS IS 2013, is it not? We are educated, are we not? We as a nation have said we are SORRY, have we not?

Australians all must hang their heads in shame if this 'State sanctioned' trajectory of violence is allowed to happen. Strong, loving and clear old women (like your mother and grandmas) and old men (like your dad), young families (like yours) whose only care their whole lives has been for their precious country, culture and community will be thrown in jail as CRIMINALS...because 'one man' (WA Premier Barnett) will not move heavy industry away from THEIR sacred burial grounds. 

I fear we are about to see here the most vicious, racist, violent disrespect perpetrated by State government and big business, in lockstep with State and Federal RIOT POLICE, whose aim will be to destroy the physical and spiritual past, present and future world of these caring fellow Australians...Get this! Purely for 'pre-investment decision surveying'. 

REMEMBER, these people are bound by Traditional Law to look after and protect their country and pass it on in good shape. To destroy the graves of their spiritual leaders is as good as a declaration of war, I and many believe. 

In Woodside's statement they say the process WILL be supervised by 'traditional owners', BUT, the traditional owners they have chosen, don't have any cultural knowledge of that country...and they know it. This is no time for word games, this is critical for this precious remaining jewel on the west-Kimberley coast.

They will have to tear the beating heart out of many of us before we allow that to happen. Draw a line good folks, and stand with the Goolarabooloo community, and those Jabbir-Jabbir people who are against the proposed gas hub, (and the pristine Kimberley coastline) by any peaceful energetic means you and your families can muster. What kind of future do you want for your country?

No Dredging @ James Price Point/Protect Whale nursery & Migration Routes | causes.com

No Dredging @ James Price Point/Protect Whale nursery & Migration Routes | causes.com:
No Dredging @ JAMES Price Point,,,,,,The West Australian Government & Woodside Energy Ltd propose to build the second largest gas plant in the world, in the world's largest whale migration corridor, off Western Australia's Kimberley coast. James Price Point is one of the largest nursery grounds...

Broome 'tired' of gas project uncertainty - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Broome 'tired' of gas project uncertainty - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):
Shire president Graeme Campbell says that polarised opinion seems to have been replaced by impatience.

"The feeling I'm getting, and I'm getting it said very loudly, people are saying, 'I don't support that oil and gas and I'm over it', 'I support the oil and gas, why the heck don't they get on and make a decision one way or the other?'" he said.

"I think people are tired of it and they just want a decision one way or the other.

"This hanging on, hanging on, hanging on isn't good for the community."

Meanwhile, a local real estate agent says uncertainty over the project is having a mixed effect on the local housing market.

Goolarabooloo calls for protection of cultural sites | The Stringer

Goolarabooloo calls for protection of cultural sites | The Stringer:
Mr Roe said the West Australian EPA and Environment Minister Bill Marmion recently gave Woodside and its joint venture partners approval to clear 110 hectares of the most important patch of monsoon vine thickets for developing gas refineries and an industrial port at James Price Point, 50km north of Broome.
Monsson Vine Thicket along the Lurujarri Heritage Trail, Photo -Jan Van Der Kam

Monsson Vine Thicket along the Lurujarri Heritage Trail, Photo -Jan Van Der Kam

Woodside is poised to resume work this year in areas of monsoon vine thickets which are part of the sacred Songcycle and contain middens, heritage sites and burial grounds. Mr Roe said this is despite the fact that the WA EPA recommended the area be protected from disturbance in 1991 and the WA Museum’s Department of Aboriginal sites recommending the area be protected because of its cultural significance in 1989.

“Woodside, Shell and BP will be responsible for destroying our environment, our heritage and burial grounds if they start drilling and digging for their exploratory works in the monsoon vine thickets,” said Phillip Roe.

Lurujarri Dreaming - AWAYE! - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Lurujarri Dreaming - AWAYE! - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):
Four years in the making, the animated Lurujarri Dreaming documents the Western Australian song-cycle from Broome up through the Dampier Peninsula.
This particular song-cycle is part of the annual nine day Lurujarri Heritage Trail which was established in 1987 by Goolarabooloo elder Paddy Roe.

Though since 2008 plans for a land based liquefied natural gas development have loomed over the Kimberley coast, in particular James Price Point (Walmadan), located approximately fifty kilometres north of Broome – this area making up part of the Lurujarri Heritage Trail.

Unions attack Gray over FLNG - The West Australian

Unions attack Gray over FLNG - The West Australian: Special Minister of State and former Woodside executive Gary Gray made the provocative comments to WestBusiness on Monday, arguing there was far more to be gained for the WA economy and future generations by developing expertise in the cutting-edge technology than pursing land-based processing.

His comments came in the context of speculation that the Gillard Government will withdraw its support for the controversial James Price Point site when it hands down its imminent environmental ruling on the development.

Woodside are back in Country 2013

They're back! Woodside located on Country on the proposed southern pipeline, east side of Manari Road. Woodside are fully committed to invading the sand dunes, Songline and gravesites within the coming weeks. People need to start planning carefully and determine how they intend to participate in the civil actions against Woodside and the state government.

Reid Road block full of brand new hire cars; Woodside accommodation in use.

Please BE OBSERVANT and notify us on the Gasphone if you see anything suspicious or any movement that you feel with be of interest.
 

Last December, a strong community campaign made the Federal Government push pause on their plans to hand off their environmental responsibilities to state governments.

 

This plan would have put Barry O’Farrell in charge of protecting koalas, Campbell Newman in charge of protecting the Great Barrier Reef, and give Colin Barnett the final decision on the James Price Point gas hub.

 

The Greens were there alongside the community; talking to local environment protection groups about how to protect their local species and habitats, holding street and market stalls to let people know about the government’s plan, asking the Government tough questions in the Senate.  By signing our petition, you were an important part of this community campaign for strong national environmental protection.

 

This Thursday, we have a chance to make the hand off of powers to state governments history.

 

I have a Bill in the Senate which would change our environment laws to make the hand off of powers unlawful.  It comes on for debate this Thursday.

 

In the recent Senate inquiry into this Bill, over 90% of submissions supported the Bill.  The submissions from a variety of local groups, environmental law experts and concerned community members pointed to the poor track record of the states and the importance of having the Federal Environment Minister as a check-and-balance to prevent the destruction of nationally significant parts of our environment.  However, the Senators on the committee didn’t recommend the Bill be passed: sadly, politics trumped evidence-based policy.

 

If the government has truly ditched its idea to hand over national environmental protection to state governments, it needs to act now to stop an Abbott government being able to hand off its environmental powers to conservative state Premiers – like the Coalition confirmed again today that they would.

 

I’m asking you to do these two things today to help protect what’s too precious to lose:

 

1.            Share the petition with three friends.

 

2.            Call your Federal Labor or Coalition Senator and tell them you support the Bill to make the hand off of environmental powers to the states unlawful.

 

Yours sincerely,

Minister enters Browse debate - The West Australian

Minister enters Browse debate - The West Australian: "Australia is at a unique intersection in gas processing and also in the context of developing unconventional gas sources," Mr Gray said. "Ten years ago we were having this conversation. The only global gas liquefaction technologies were onshore technologies.

"We now have not only unconventional gas being converted to LNG in Queensland, but we also have development of offshore floating processing through the possibility of Prelude (and other fields).

"That takes Australia to literally the technological cutting edge of the growth export industry on the planet, energy.

"That is a great future to have for our kids, it is a great future to have for our resources."

Neck and neck in a Kimberley thriller | The Australian

Neck and neck in a Kimberley thriller | The Australian: THE Greens and Labor are both confident of victory in the northern West Australian seat of Kimberley, which will boil down to postal and absentee votes in a tight four-way contest with the Liberals and Nationals.

WA Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately yesterday said the primary vote was still too close to allocate preferences for a two-party-preferred result although a fresh scrutiny of votes today could clarify the contest.

Doubts about Browse despite WA support | The Australian

Doubts about Browse despite WA support | The Australian:

WOODSIDE Petroleum's $40 billion Browse gas project looks less likely to go ahead despite the re-election of its biggest supporter, West Australian Premier Colin Barnett.

Some analysts believe the controversial proposal to build a gas plant at James Price Point, near Broome, is not economically viable due to spiralling costs and challenges securing labour.

They expect Woodside's final investment decision on Browse to be delayed by at least another year, meaning state government approvals for the project will lapse.

Kimberley District Results | Western Australian Electoral Commission

Kimberley District Results | Western Australian Electoral Commission:

72% of those who voted in Broome rejected the Liberals who are the only party to hold a strong pro James Price Point view.  Kimberley District Results View district profile information Number of Electors: 16,387

Count Status: Count In Progress

A revised notional distribution of preferences will occur on Tuesday after the fresh scrutiny.

Festival for the Kimberley Geoffrey Cousins - YouTube

Festival for the Kimberley Geoffrey Cousins - YouTube

Walk from James Price a win for Woodside | The Australian

Walk from James Price a win for Woodside | The Australian:
THE wallets of shareholders could be the big winners if, as expected, Colin Barnett's re-election sets in motion the series of events that ultimately will see Woodside Petroleum and its partners walk away from the proposed $US45 billion ($43.9bn) James Price Point LNG plant.

Don't be surprised if, now that he's been safely re-elected, the positive rhetoric from the West Australian Premier towards the controversial proposal begins to ease.'Walk from James Price a win for Woodside'-
 
Barnett has been an increasingly lone voice in his advocacy for James Price Point. But as his protestations have become louder they have reinforced the perception the plan is an increasingly challenged proposition. Rising costs, a strong Australian dollar and increased uncertainty around both the long-term direction of liquefied natural gas markets and the future of LNG pricing mechanisms are likely to ensure the more than 40-year wait to exploit the huge but remote Browse gas reserves continues for at least a while longer.

The political impact of the partners scrapping James Price Point today is far less damaging for Mr Barnett than it would have been on Friday, given how strongly he has advocated for it and how damaging such a move could have been to his campaign.

The Browse partners, for their part, did the right thing during the past few months and kept their mouths shut when quizzed about their intentions.
Rather than being bad news for Woodside, scrapping James Price Point could present an opportunity to become the pre-eminent dividend-payer among Australian oil and gas stocks.
And it could give the company the chance to finally resolve the Royal Dutch Shell overhang that has been a burden since Shell made its original partial sell-down, back in late 2010.
The near-doubling in net profit to just shy of $US3bn, announced by Woodside at its recent full-year results, reinforced the rude profitability in which the company now finds itself.
That cash flow gives Woodside a fantastic opportunity to differentiate itself from its peers in the Australian-listed oil and gas sector, and the chance to establish itself as a company offering substantial and sustainable returns.
Its stakes in the North West Shelf LNG project and its Pluto LNG project -- completed early last year after years of schedule headaches and painful cost-blowouts -- are now generating serious volumes of cash.
Deutsche Bank analyst John Hirjee estimates that Woodside could throw $US2.5bn at capital management this year, and get moving on returning the more than $US3bn in franking credits it has amassed during the capex frenzy of the past few years.
Investors today are less willing to back stocks driven by long-dated, high-capex growth opportunities and are increasingly orientated towards yield.
An enthusiastic embrace of capital management by Woodside at a time when peers such as Santos, Oil Search and Origin are all feeling the pain of cost-blowouts and delays at their LNG developments would certainly distinguish Woodside among local oil and gas stocks.
On Mr Hirjee's calculations, Woodside -- assuming it dumps James Price Point -- could manage a special dividend this year of $US3.04 a share. When interim and final dividends are added, Woodside could offer a total yield of about 11.9 per cent -- an eye-catching figure in any industry, but especially so in a resources sector with a history of low dividend yield.
Woodside's rapidly expanding cash pile, low capex needs and bulging franking credits position could help it make real inroads into reducing Royal Dutch Shell's overhanging position on the company's share register, through a partial buyback.
Shell sold a 10 per cent position in Woodside in late 2010, leading to plenty of speculation since then about its intentions for its remaining 23.6 per cent.

Since that first sell-down, the value of Shell's remaining stake has fallen from about $US8.1bn to about $US6.5bn.

Mr Hirjee believes that Shell, despite being a foreign company, would be entitled to franking credits, given that it has substantial operations in Australia that pay tax.

He believes Woodside could execute a buyback for some of Shell's stake, with the buyback being 50 per cent a deemed dividend (opening up the potential for franking credits) and 50 per cent a return of capital.
The Deutsche Bank analysis works on an assumed buyback price of $35 a share, but franking credits help improve the notional value of the buyback to more like $42.50 -- higher than the $42.23 at which Shell completed its original sell-down.

Such a plan would require Shell's willingness to participate, and, given its moves in recent months to up its interest in Browse and its behind-the-scenes efforts to push for a floating LNG solution for the project, it may not be willing to cede its influence over the project by decreasing its Woodside stake.
 
But the key point is that Woodside certainly has plenty of options in a post-James Price Point future. Abandoning James Price Point would not be an end for the company but a beginning, particularly from a capital-management perspective.

James Price Point's biggest champion, Barnett, won't be happy with that decision.
But at least he'll be able to console himself from the comfort of the Premier's chair.