Beagle Bay Blockade 2

Discussing the fate of Beagle Bay.

All video on Hands off country is unedited. Over time we will have each video transcribed. Further videos will become available of the other meetings held on the Dampier Peninsula this week. Downloading takes some time so thanks for your patience.

Kimberley Land Council Sits at Woodside's Table

It has come to the attention of Eyesoncountry, through a very reliable source that whilst the Dampier Peninsula communities were standing up for their country, their lifestyles, their culture and heritage with representatives from NDT, even to the point of blockading entry to Beagle Bay, KLC have been in Perth, negotiating with Woodside, bartering with the hopes, dreams and aspirations of all the Indigenous people living in Dampier Peninsula.

Only last week, KLC’s CEO was on the Peninsular meeting with some leaseholders and Beagle Bay community members supporting them to directly bring their major objections and grave concerns about the proposed LNG Gas Hub and the North Head site to the NDT’s representatives at the proposed meetings the following week. KLC were aware that NDT were seeking to inform people of their intention to drill. At no time did the KLC's CEO inform people about being at the table with Woodside.

In addition, our source informed us that Don Voelte, CEO, Woodside has the following options up their sleeves:

• The Burrup is achievable but the Browse gas would need to be processed through the joint venture LNG plant with additional trains built to existing infrastructure (not Woodside’s sole operator plant Pluto)

• Floating platform is a very serious option. This is the cheapest option and will be the way of the future (generally speaking) to give more flexibility. LNG deposits are becoming increasingly smaller and this option makes sense for the future direction of the industry. The problem at this stage is that the technology is untested and would be built at considerable risk

• And of course North Head and apparently Perpendicular is still on their agenda!!!!!

• According to our source, the Beagle Bay Blockade was the first time Woodside’s CEO had heard that there was an Indigenous problem. Apparently, Woodside had honestly thought that KLC had won the hearts and minds of all Indigenous people.

We understand that KLC is a Prescribed Body Corporate that represents Traditional Owners, however, Eyes On and Hands Off Country believe that KLC have an ethical duty of care to ensure that all Indigenous people have an equal say in something that will change their lives, their culture and heritage forever.

KLC, Woodside, Northern Development Taskforce, State Government Departments, Premier's Office and the Department of Indigenous Affairs, when are you going to be open and transparent, consult and inform all major stakeholders: Traditional Owners, Leaseholders, Stolen generation, long-term community residents?

What part of country are you negotiating over?

At what point in this ”process” will the people of the Peninsula’s objections and their categorical “No’s” be heard, listened to and taken seriously?

Please view for yourselves, people’s adverse reactions to the prospect of a gas hub on the Peninsula.

MEDIA RELEASE Albert Wiggan Beagle Bay

http://youtu.be/FlPk-DiwyO4

Media Release

The time has come, Indigenous people on the Dampier Peninsular have had enough of being dictated to. The Northern Development Taskforce will be met with the full force of country and people united in a blockade refusing them entry into country, Beagle Bay.

This blockade is saying:
No, NDT, you will not come into our country seeking permission to poke your drilling holes into it; you will not take our land or sea, kill our culture and destroy our past, future and present heritage.

Saying sorry is no longer good enough if you keep doing the things you say you are sorry about. Great, the whole nation experienced the warm fuzzy feelings but the reality on the ground in 2008 is that we are still being invaded, still subjected to unjust and unfair laws, still having country taken from us and still our people are being pushed off their lands.

The government is saying we need jobs, but this is our job, to look after country, to protect it, teach our children how to live, learn and grow in this country, this is our job, and we are very good at it. Most of the world is either drying or gone, but our country is still a living breathing connection that lives within us, that makes the blood move through our bodies.

We still have fresh air, you can still catch a fish for a feed, you can walk and go everywhere in our country free without money, without fear of life, you can enjoy and replenish your soul and build strength in mind and body. The whole world is welcome to come and enjoy country, but you will never be made welcome by country and people if you wish to destroy it.

We will not sell our country or our birth rights for money, when we already hold all the true and real wealth in our hands, in our lands and in our very beings.

Albert Wiggan
Spokesperson
0488 009 752

Council decides

Sadly, the Council has determined that a gas hub is inevitable in the Shire of Broome, and it will pursue the State Government for assistance in managing and resourcing the expected social impacts. The decision will be at www.broome.wa.gov.au , go to minutes Special Council Meetings.

Redhand urges everyone to contact all of the Councillors to express their opinion, contact details on the same website.

Photo Sunrise looking from James Price Point.

Broome Shire Council to make decision on gas hub site.

The Shire of Broome has called a Special Council Meeting TOMORROW FRIDAY 7th November, 4.00pm, Council will make a resolution in relation to the Northern Development Taskforce Site Evaluation report on sites for a gas hub on the Kimberley coast, particularly as three of the sites are within the Shire of Broome.

Redhand urges everyone to consider the staff recommendation to Council.
Go to
http://www.broome.wa.gov.au/council/pdf/agenda/2008/20081107sa.pdf

If you wish to comment you can email all of the Councillors go to www.broome.wa.gov.au for email details or attend the meeting at the Shire Administration building in Weld Street, Broome. Anyone in the Public Gallery can ask a question during Public Question Time, you might like to email your questions prior to the meeting to shire@broome.wa.gov.au.

Rumoured meetings

Is the Northern Development Taskforce planning to meet in Beagle Bay and at Middle Lagoon next week?

If so:
When and where?

Who is the Northern Development Taskforce meeting with?

What is the purpose and the agenda of these meetings?

Are any approvals being sought for drilling or other access?

Are all of the relevant stakeholders being invited including Beagle Bay Community, Leaseholders, Aboriginal Lands Trust, Kimberley Land Council, Native Title Claimants, Traditional Owners, Department of Indigenous Affairs, Department of Environment and Conservation, Indigenous Co ordination Centre, and the Broome Shire?

What is the Department of Indigenous Affairs’ role in these meetings?

What is the Department of Environment and Conservation’s role in these meetings?

Are these open meetings?
and
What is the relationship between these meetings and the Northern Development Taskforce Site Evaluation reports’ request for public comment closing 5.00pm Tuesday 11th November?
Photo: looking south towards North Head.

Gift to Hands off country

Red hand would like to acknowledge the very generous gift from a friend of Hands off country. This vehicle will provide assistance for Red hand and Blueye to bring you, out there in cyberspace, more information, photos, videos and most importantly the stories.

13 days to write your submission to NDT – Help - Urgent

There are 17 days left for you to make your submission to the NDT on the Northern Development Taskforce Site Evaluation Report

BY POST -It must be there by 5.00pm on the 11th November. Now we assume that means delivered, so anyone who lives on the Dampier Peninsula or Gourdon Bay will need to wait for the mail run or drive into Broome to post the submission at the Post Office, that could be up to 200km on a mostly dirt road. But that’s ok you do it all the time. Let’s say 4 days from Broome Post Office to the NDT in Perth. That means it has to be posted on Friday 7th November. You have thirteen days to write your submission. We also assume that submissions must be in the form of text on paper, it would be helpful if we could, fax, send disks or other forms of digital storage, film and so on. Please, if you know people who don’t have access to the internet, “bring them over and tell them what’s going on.” Quote Blu eye

BY EMAIL you have 17 days - send to ndt@doir.wa.gov.au
Here are the guidelines and where to send your submission. From www.doir.wa.gov.au/ndt
Guidelines on preparing a submission
To help the Taskforce analyse your submission:
• Provide a summary of your point or points at the beginning of the submission
• Refer your point or points to the appropriate section of the Site Evaluation Report or recommendations in the Report
• Attach any factual information you wish to provide and give details of the source
All submissions will be treated as public documents, unless marked ‘Confidential’. Non-confidential content in submissions may be quoted in the Taskforce’s final report.

When making a submission remember to include:
• Your name
• Your address
• Your email address
• The date
• Whether you want your submission to be confidential.

All submissions received will be acknowledged.
Submissions should be sent to:
Site Evaluation Submissions
Northern Development Taskforce
Department of Industry and Resources
100 Plain Street
East Perth WA 6004
Alternatively, submissions can be emailed to: ndt@doir.wa.gov.au
Submissions must be received by 5.00pm, Tuesday 11 November.

Interview with Kerrianne Cox, speaking about proposed LNG Hub planned for her country

Youtube: http://youtu.be/Vs66-XG6JkA

Kerrianne Cox speaks about the impact of the proposed gas processing hub on her country and the far-reaching and the extremely negative consequences for both her community of Beagle Bay and the outlaying Indigenous Outstations and eco tourism ventures.

Gas processing and explorations will result in the destruction of traditional Indigenous economies and communities. The Indigenous peoples of the Dampier land have legitimate reasons for being deeply concerned about the planned gas hub in their country as developers interests normally prevail
wherever and whenever Indigenous peoples interests and rights clash with development projects.

http://www.kerriannecox.com/

WE HAD TO SPLIT THE INTERVIEW INTO TWO PARTS BECAUSE YOUTUBE HAS A RESTRICTION FOR BIG FILES (sorry for the inconvenience)

- INTERVIEW TEXT -Date & Location : saturday 20 October 2008, 5.20pm, Beagle Bay - Dampier Peninsula - Western Australia

( the text of the interview will be online soon )

Youtube: http://youtu.be/BCG0XalcRCU

What does an LNG gas hub mean?

We must imagine what it will be like to live next door to an LNG gas hub, what will the horizon look like, perfect starry clear nights will nights of the past never to be seen again. The smell will be terrible. Imagine the impact on the very few people who live here,for the thousands of visitors we welcome every year, care and love for country will be damaged for ever.
The Northern Development Taskforce Site Evaluation report Part A indicates that consultants recommend that “a 950 hectare site be identified for a hub which would allow for
up to 10 gas trains (50 -70 Mtpa LNG), a gas to liquids plant and an ammonia plant.
In addition to the industrial land area, the site would need to offer appropriate buffer
zones between the plant and other areas of occupation. The hub will require
additional land for an airstrip should it be located away from existing infrastructure,
and worker accommodation, work camps and associated areas may be sited outside
of the hub industrial precinct to integrate better with local area planning.....”
Who knows how much extra land will be needed outside of the hub area to accommodate people, services and an airport? Perhaps double that size? This question must be answered now.

Premier Barnett put on notice tonight

1971 - Woodside discovers Scott Reef gas field in the Browse Basin 

1979 - Woodside discovers Brecknock gas field


2000 - Woodside discovers Brecknock South gas field 

2005 - Woodside announces Quandong Point as a possible site for its Browse Basin LNG

plant.

2006 - Inpex investigates possible Kimberley sites for its Browse Basin (Icthys) LNG plant

2007 - WA Labor Government establishes Northern Development Taskforce (NDT) to

investigate potential LNG processing precinct sites in the Kimberley.

2007 – Save the Kimberley formed

2008 - Strategic Assessment Agreement signed by WA and Australian Federal Governments 2008 - September – Colin Barnett elected Premier

2008 - October – Hands Off Country blog commences following the first banner protest in

Broome.

Within hours of the announcement of HIS preferred site for the gas hub proposal, Premier Barnett was given a clear message tonight. Installed on the major roundabout coming into Broome, Kimberley, Western Australia and illuminated by an eerie generator light, Premier Barnett is put on notice. We will not give away the Kimberley without a fight.

PICTURES

VIDEO

youtube link  http://youtu.be/lJXTsAy4QmA