Harry the Hermit Crab at James Price Point

Meet Harry the Hermit crab as he searches for like-minded crabs and humans to assist him in his endeavors to keep greedy hands off country.

Vulnerable plant communities of James Price Point

The Gubinge tree usually stands, when fully grown, up to 6 to 7 metres in height. The Gubinge that grow on the cliff line at James Price Point are ancient trees, some as old as 300 years, but would stand no higher than one metre. In the misty season, when big blankets of mist cover this cliff face, very special and rare carnivorous plants can be found. Some of these carnivorous plants have not been formally identified or officially named.

Pixie, Daisy and Diver Go To James Prices Point

This video is to encourage all people to act in a peaceful, non-violent way. Everyone can be involved in hands on activism., It can take all forms, whether its environmental art, pointing out special areas, hanging banners, driving, using IT or just enjoying country.
This is a video of two young girls who spent their weekend exploring James Price Point , the proposed location for an LNG gas processing precinct on the Kimberley coast and standing up for the planet.


Filmed on the 4th and 5th January 2009.

Hands off country

Picturesque Price's Point

The storm clouds of concern and protest are gathering like the wet season clouds with rain and thunder. You can offer your support to:

wecansavethekimberley@ymail.com

Photos Australia Day weekend at James Price Point.

Hands off country

Conserving Dampier Peninsula’s Vulnerable vine thickets

This is a photograph of a fully laden Gubinge (Terminalia ferdinandiana) taken at James Price Point last weekend. This fruit is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C in the world - 50 times that of the oranges. The Dampier Peninsula, located between Broome and Derby in the Kimberley region of WA, contains significant communities of native vine thickets, remnant of monsoonal rainforests more often restricted to the wetter parts of northern Australia.

Many species in the Peninsula’s thickets are located at the southern limits of their range. The vine thickets are renowned for their high biodiversity value and provide important habitat for native fauna and valuable food sources and cultural significance for Aboriginal people.

About 90% of the total 1,000 ha of thickets occurs on Aboriginal reserves and grazing leases, and over the past 10 - 15 years Indigenous communities have been engaged in the protection, harvesting and conservation of these vine thickets.

The vine thickets occur as discrete and discontinuous patches of dense semi-deciduous vegetation situated on the leeward slopes of coastal sand dunes. The patches increase in species diversity and structural composition progressively towards the northern end of the Peninsula and can range in size from a stand of several trees to a patch greater than 60ha. The network of patches ensures species migration and gene flow, and the loss and degradation of a single patch can leave isolated patches vulnerable to local species extinction.

These Vine thickets are already increasingly threatened by the combined effects of frequent hot wildfires, weed infestation, impacts of off-road driving, camping, and damage from cattle. The development of a proposed LNG Gas Hub at James Prices Point will definitely add to these pressures.

Dampier Peninsula’s vine thickets are recognised as Threatened Ecological Communities under State legislation, and are listed as ‘Vulnerable’, facing a high risk of total destruction in the medium to long term.

In 2005, the WA TEC Scientific Committee reassessed the plight of the vine thickets and recommended that the communities be upgraded to ‘Endangered’, which means that they face a very high risk of total destruction in the near future.

This is not the scrubby bush our Premier would want people to believe. To some, the vegetation on the Peninsular may appear dull and uninteresting, but to those who take the time to understand its complexities, it reveals a wealth of fascinating plant communities.

Can't build a footpath, how about a gas hub?

......"Redhand is currently at the corner of Clementson (Street) and Port Drive in Broome. What we would like to illustrate to you today is how pindan reacts when a slab of concrete is placed on top of it. Now this pathway is only 3 months old and already you can see huge damage in regards to erosion. Now, pindan is a very difficult sand to work with and James Price Point is basically all pindan. Redhand questions, do we have the technology and the ability to put huge amounts, slabs of concrete over pindan and believe that it is stable? Now this is a very simple illustration, but a very clear illustration of how pindan reacts when it has got concrete placed on top, ......and we have rain."

Hands off country

Environmental damage at Woodside's base in Broome

........"Redhand is currently down at the Woodside site near the Broome Port. What Redhand would like to show you today is that this simple compensation basin which has really only seen one 'wet' has completely and totally eroded away. They've currently got a generator on at the moment, a pump to try and pump the water out and as we pan around this very small compensation basin you'll see that the workers are frantically trying to fill in the hole. Redhand questions that if this Company does not have the engineering ability or understanding of how to look after and work with the environment and pindan then how can they honestly be entrusted to put an LNG gas hub on the Kimberley coast if they cannot make

a simple compensation basin without this type of wanton environmental damage?"

Urgent repairs to the compensation basin at the Woodside site at the Port of Broome following rain from Cyclone Billy. This is a new compensation basin and Broome has not had significant rains this wet.

Imagine a 7 kilometre jetty at James Price Point

........ "This is James Price Point. Can you imagine a seven kilometre jetty out here? Can you iimagine all the dredging and all the cement they are going to have to mix? Guys, this is gorgeous how it is. Hands off country. Hands off."


People have to understand that the proposed gas hub at James Price Point, on the Kimberley coast will not only decimate James Price Point's environment but will lock people out of country with it's thirty kilometres exclusion zone. Willie Creek, if we are lucky, will be the furthermost northern point people will be able to travel up the western coastline of Dampier Peninsula. This exclusion zone will also be extended out to sea effectively locking out recreational fishing. How can one industry be allowed to come in and take away the livelihoods and recreation of many families?

Why introduce industry that is so destructive when we already have environmentally friendly and sustainable industries like tourism, fishing, pearling, charter tours, eco tourism, whales and bird watching etc? These have worked very hard over the years to build up this branding both for Broome and Dampier Peninsula and employ countless numbers of people.

Hands off country...Stand up for the planet

Barnett's first 2009 response to Environmental Concerns

at James Priceless Point 4 January 2009

Below is a news release from the ABC. We are pleased to see that Barnett has responded to the major environmental concerns that conservationists, such as Richard Costin and others have been shouting about for some time now, by promising a full environmental study of the James Prices Point area.

However, in the same interview Barnett states that he "thinks that there will be no conflict between shipping and whales".With what information and studies can he claim such a thing? Why does Barnett continue to make these "off-the-cuff" remarks, especially after promising a full environmental study.

Right from the day he was elected eyesoncountry feels like Barnett is "like a bull in a china shop" as his greed to make his mark on the state outstrips his ability to deal with proper protocols, laws that are set up to protect our environment.

We will have faith in our laws because everybody in the Broome region is very aware of how the Humpback Whales pass so very close to Priceless Point, and when they are migrating north to calf we must remember that some of the mothers are fully laden with their new offspring and just before they arrive in the first safety zone of Pender Bay, where early births no doubt occur, they may have to navigate through massive gas tankers and veer out to sea to avoid the hub's jetties. Even the "layman" such as myself can see the conflict and impact that would happen.

Please wipe that dust away Barnett.
p.s does this mean that his 3 month threat is out the door since it would have to be June and beyond 2009 to be able to properly study the whales??? Even then, only 3-5 year studies could properly and scientifically give the EPA the proper data that is needed to make such a decision.

Government promises full assessment for gas hub
ABC News
Posted 8 hours 52 minutes ago
Updated 8 hours 47 minutes ago


The Premier Colin Barnett says there will be a full environmental assessment of the site which has been named for a gas processing precinct in the Kimberley.

The State Government has chosen James Price Point north of Broome as the site for the L-N-G hub.

Environmental groups say the development will be an disaster for marine life particularly for humpback whales which migrate to the area each year.

Mr Barnett says that is a legitimate issue and the site will be assessed for any environmental impact before the development goes ahead.

"I think there will be no conflict between shipping and whales, and by moving the plant well away from the major calving area, I don't believe there will be any impact," he said.

"But yes there will be a full environmental assessment of any development of any site on any area of WA."

Conservationist fights to preserve Kimberley Whale song.

From the West.3rd January 2009

More than half a century ago, in a cold, wet and mountainous corner of Australia, Alec Costin was known as the real Man from Snowy River.
Considered the father of alpine ecology in Australia, Dr Costin’s efforts to conserve and manage Mount Kosciuszko in the Snowy Mountains were legendary.
Today, thousands of kilometres across the country in Broome, his son Richard is fighting on a new conservation frontier.
As The West Australian accompanied the khaki-clad whale researcher to James Price Point this week, his partner Annabelle Sandes suggested he might be a cross between Steve Irwin and Les Hiddins, aka the Bush Tucker Man.
That comparison might not sit well with Mr Costin but it is an easy one to make.
He regularly embarks on three-week treks through the rugged terrain of the Kimberley, taking nothing more than a fishing line and a box of matches.
But it is his knowledge of the endangered humpback whale — gathered while studying their migratory activities along the Kimberley coast for the past 15 years — that he hopes will change the course of the Broome gas hub debate.
Mr Costin says a gas precinct at James Price Point would put a brick wall in the migratory path of the humpback.
A recent Environmental Protection Authority report found North Head, 125km north of Broome, was a humpback whale breeding ground. This was enough to deter Colin Barnett from naming North Head as his favoured site, opting for James Price Point instead.
But Mr Costin says the same detailed research that formed the basis of the EPA’s advice has not been done at James Price Point.
In September, Mr Costin and Ms Sandes began a spot survey of humpbacks between the Maret Islands and Broome.
They saw an average of 11.2 humpbacks per hour at James Price Point — a figure only behind the 22 spotted at Camden Sound, one of the Kimberley’s largest bays.
While Mr Costin believes there would be ship strikes of whales if a gas hub were built at James Price Point, his biggest concern is interference to the communication between mothers and their calves.
His research has revealed an “acoustic curtain” whereby humpbacks communicated with others in calving areas hundreds of kilometres up the Dampier Peninsula.
“Each boat would have its own sound signature and that would basically drown out the whale song.”
Mr Costin says it is the deep waters off the point — one of the requirements for building a gas precinct — that attracts the whales.
Recognising that a gas processing plant will be built, he advocates a floating plant off the coast.
With Woodside focusing on a plant in either the Kimberley or the Pilbara, that option appears unlikely.
Ben Spencer

2009 The march is on for James Price Point!

It’s now 77 days since Redhand’s banner hit the roundabout (No Way Barnett. Beagle Bay Blockade. No Gas. Hands off country) at the entrance to Broome, Western Australia, in anger at Premier Colin Barnett’s early announcement that the planned gas hub precinct should be established at North Head. The blatant disregard by the Premier, for the process of community consultation and research that had already taken place and which is planned, outraged Redhand. The momentum of community spirit, anger, discussion and media articles created has been overwhelming and Redhand intends to pursue this issue until contemplation or intent to build an LNG gas processing precinct on the Dampier Peninsula is dead and buried. As Redhand said then “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."

Redhand aims to raise the consciousness of people about what is proposed.
The main aim is to change the mindset, that it’s imminent, that its inevitable and it will happen. That mindset has to be challenged.
People say they can’t change anything but the only thing that has changed history has been people. Even that mindset of the individual has to be challenged the “Oh, what can I do?” Even that has to change. This gas development will only happen if people let it.
Redhand’s objective is to challenge this mindset, this ‘fait accompli’ thinking in the current environmental, political and economic climate.

The world needed to be told so this blog was created to record, to educate and to inform you about the potential disaster of a gas hub on our most beautiful coastline. Redhand is delighted that other groups have spread this campaign and encourages you to watch other websites and blogs listed under our links section.

Redhand’s intention has always been for non violent, protest with creative, direct action, “Banners sprout in Broome as LNG campaign grows. Protests anger authorities.” and “Red Hand takes the argument to Carol Martin's front door. We will not give up on the Kimberley without a fight”. That 300 to 500 people joined a community rally in Broome (15,000 population) on a week’s notice is evidence that this issue is finally on our agenda, at the top of priority and action lists!

Two days before Christmas and while Cyclone Billy hovered along the western coast of Dampier Peninsula near James Price Point, the Premier announced James Price Point as the Government’s preferred site for an LNG gas processing precinct. Of course, on the recommendation of the EPA there needs to be added room for expansion and future buffer zones so the Premier was delighted to announce a confirmed site with lots of space and scrubby bush. Not one gas processing plant more than one, that means how much more infrastructure? This might be 3 to 4 times more land than we have previously been told. Evidently the NDT is dead. Will the fence line along the gas precinct be shared by Willie Creek Pearl Farm?

One considered view is that current exploration for gas will continue, development of processing may be delayed however. Given the global financial markets in a huge state of flex and the domino effect of which we have not yet fully felt in Broome will cause investors and gas processing proponents to review their finances, operating, capital and equity. Further the Federal Government’s planned carbon emission scheme is yet to be determined. It’s quite possible that Financial Investment Decisions will be delayed perhaps even two years. Meanwhile the State Government will issue a Notice Of Intention To Take, the land post 31st March 2009. This is for the purpose that the land be prepared, ready for the gas processing companies. The State must be challenged environmentally, socially, economically and honestly. Now is the time for the community to really understand what this ‘gas thing’ is all about, 90 days to say NO GAS.

Redhand heard of talk about a festival for the Kimberley to be held at James Price Point. It’s planned to bring people onto country, enjoy the goodwill of others in support of saving the country from destruction. There’s talk of Missy Higgins, Pigram Brothers, Xavier Rudd and others. Redhand supports this positive, non-violent direct action, for bringing people to see and enjoy the country. Goodwill and sharing of skills will help it happen, dancing on country is far better than destroying it.

Now that James Prices Point has been selected by the State Government for a gas hub/precinct it’s time to focus there. Redhand has decided to update previous posts:

1. Hub will vandalise the Lurujarrri Heritage Walk Trail ---This is a most important heritage area and the songline travels through James Price Point. Aboriginal people have walked this trail for centuries and Elders have guided people from all over the world over the last few years.
2. Compulsory Acquisition what does it mean?---This is the possible process the State Government will undertake.

Last time we met with Bob Builder on the Peninsula was at Map Beach on North Head. Redhand plans to see him again this weekend at James Price Point – watch out for new Redhand messages.

Handsoffcountry has continued with thanks and appreciation because of contributions by partners and friends, our nine children, Redhand’s Digital Fingers Francesco and Elena (such wisdom and talent in the young), cash contributions for stickers, and a car, to Emma, Peter, Simon, Cath and Lee and to sticker distributors. Great to see Handsoffcountry stickers driving around town. Email Redhand if you’d like some.
And to Redhand’s digital fingers Francesco and Elena who are enjoying the wonders of the snow “Ciao how are you? From the cold snowy Dolomiti Mountain Italy”. look at http://www.xse.it/webcam.php Redhand’s special new year wishes to these two talented people, looking forward to seeing them after snowboarding in the Australian Alps later this year.
And for the deadliest assistance, with banners, by those who shall remain nameless.

Take a look at any of the links on this blog they all provide more information, news and opinion. Congratulations to all of the environmental groups out there working on keeping the Kimberley intact.
If you’re thinking, what can you do? Visit one of the Indigenous Eco Tourism ventures on the Dampier Peninsula this year. Go fishing, go mudcrabbing, see the country for what it is clean and fresh and free, wonder at the birdlife, the fish, the whales trekking north to breed, and then come to Broome, buy pearls, look at our heritage and laze on one of the world’s best beaches.

Redhand congratulates everyone who has made an effort no matter how big or small, talking to your boss, debating over the bbq, lending starpickets or marching in the rally every little bit helps.
Very special thanks to Eyesoncountry for doing exactly that, eyes on country. Redhand is off to country for new film and pics, bit of plant picking, birdwatching, snake avoiding, bit of picture taking, have a look around and collect some news. Over to Eyes on country and a peaceful and healthy 2009 to all. Redhand

Happy New Year 2009. Eyesoncountry would like to wish all those Handsoffcountry viewers and all who hold the earth sacred, blessings for the coming year.Would also like to acknowledge and give respect to the country we are all talking about as well as to the proper Law, Culture and Heritage Bosses of the Prices Point area.

Now to cut straight to the point.No doubt 2009 will bring a new string of events and media releases as fast as last years as the greed for gas outweighs our politicians abilities to see clearly, listen properly and actually feel the country they would like to bulldoze to oblivion.

To all our Federal and State politicians and the movers and shakers of big business the time has come for you to wipe the dust from your eyes and choose to operate in ways that supports this living planet that gives us life otherwise you will continue to get hounded by the Nation.

In 2009 we will not stop, we will not fail, we will not falter in our aim to expose and examine every move and utterance that comes forth from so called "high places" in regards to this issue.We will continue to bring you unedited points of view and interviews and any actions that take place and we have a constant source of eyes and ears on country and in the board rooms.So please take heed and use the new year to enlighten yourselves to what the majority of the Kimberley Community is saying.

We would also like to call on people from all around our nation and our planet to participate in whatever ways they can and we will need numbers up here in the Dry for actions.

However, direct non-violent action as well as the backing of our ancient allies means that we are quietly confident that wisdom will prevail and new options become available. Eyes on country

Eyes on Country Hands off country Stand up for the planet

James Price Point Premier's Media Release

"http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/PublishingImages/Barnett%20Ministers%20thumbnails/barnett_tn.gif"> Colin Barnett
Premier (includes Federal-State Relations; Public Sector Management; Government Accountability); State Development

Tue 23 December, 2008

Liberal-National Government makes decision on LNG precinct

Portfolio: Premier, State Development

James Price Point, about 60 kilometres from Broome, has been chosen as the site for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) precinct in the Kimberley.

Premier and State Development Minister Colin Barnett said the exact location of the LNG precinct would be determined after full consideration of significant cultural, heritage and environmental values of the area and further technical feasibility studies.

The Premier made the announcement after a visit and inspection of the potential sites earlier this week and meetings with indigenous representatives, environmental groups and local government.

“After extensive consideration, James Price Point has been declared the location most likely to work best for the Kimberley community, for the environment, for industry and for Western Australia’s future economic development,” Mr Barnett said.

“This is a significant step forward; the site has still to undergo a full environmental impact assessment and more detailed technical and social impact studies, before a final approval is given.

“Nomination of James Price Point fulfils this Government’s commitment to urgently identify a site on the Kimberley coast to stimulate WA’s future growth.”

Since 2007, more than 40 possible Kimberley sites were considered and four sites, including James Price Point, were short-listed in October 2008.

The Premier said the Government will now focus its energy on working with traditional owners to secure land tenure over the site and completing social impact assessments to ensure that the project can deliver the benefits it promises, without compromising the special character of Broome and the wider Kimberley region.

“Our aim is to acquire the site by consent. This could include restoring rights equivalent to native title over the site at the cessation of LNG processing. Compulsory acquisition of the land remains an option,” Mr Barnett said.

“With respect to acquisition of the site area, the WA Government has agreed to a proposal by the Commonwealth to fund a facilitator to work with the key parties (WA Government, Woodside, indigenous interests and relevant Commonwealth agencies) towards a negotiated resolution to acquire the site.

“This process has a completion date of March 31, 2009, after which the State Government will begin land acquisition processes.

“WA appears to have lost one major project to Darwin because the previous Labor government could not make a decision to secure the $15billion Inpex project. I do not intend to lose another.

“I am confident that the Woodside Joint Venture partners will choose to use the precinct rather than pursue the option of piping gas 850 kilometres to the Burrup Peninsula, but ultimately that is a decision for industry.

“I am also hopeful that Inpex might reconsider a WA option, for either its Ichthys field or for future gas developments, provided we can provide certainty of tenure over the site.”

Mr Barnett said the development could bring hundreds of jobs, millions of investment dollars and long-term economic diversification for Broome and the West Kimberley.

He said the James Price Point location provided a range of potential development sites along a 10km coastal strip and offered:

• flexibility in locating jetties and processing operations to meet heritage and environmental requirements
• ease of expansion for two, or more than two LNG processing operators should that be required during the life of the Browse basin gas field
• no settlement, homes or businesses within 20 kilometres of the proposed site

The area could easily accommodate a 1,000 to 2,000 hectare, buffered industrial estate, 300 to 400 kilometres from offshore gas producers in the Browse Basin. The Dampier Peninsula has a land area of 14,000 square kilometres.

The Dampier Peninsula coast from Broome to Cape Leveque is about 200 kilometres long - the equivalent of the distance between Perth and Bunbury.

The Browse Basin has proven reserves of 27.5 trillion cubic feet of gas (Tcf) and 600 million barrels of condensate. Gas reserves are estimated at 60 Tcf, making the area comparable to the North West Shelf in terms of prospectivity.

The site selection brings to a natural conclusion the work of the Northern Development Taskforce. Continuing consultation with interested parties will be led by the new Department of State Development which will come into being on January 1, 2009.

The Northern Development Taskforce started work on selecting a site for an LNG development in the Kimberley in June 2007. It has produced or commissioned at least 22 reports into environmental, indigenous and other issues surrounding the proposal.

There were also 243 written submissions on the site selection (shortlist) report plus 46 verbal submissions, a three day workshop in Broome in July and an Environmental Protection Authority report and other reports commissioned by the Commonwealth.

Premier's office - 9222 9475