Ollie Butterfield, a Kimberley Protector has died in a car accident in Vic

In Victoria, a man died and a woman was seriously injured after a car hit a tree on the Hume Freeway near Wangaratta late on Thursday. A man in his 30s, believed to be the driver, died at the scene, a spokesman for Ambulance Victoria said.

A 34-year-old female passenger was flown to The Alfred hospital in a serious but stable condition with multiple injuries. The Australian.



Those who don't feel this Love
pulling them like a river,
those who don't drink dawn
like a cup of spring water
or take in sunset like supper,
those who don't want to change,

let them sleep.

This Love is beyond the study of theology,
that old trickery and hypocrisy.
I you want to improve your mind that way,

sleep on.

I've given up on my brain.
I've torn the cloth to shreds
and thrown it away.

If you're not completely naked,
wrap your beautiful robe of words
around you,

and sleep.

http://a3.ec-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/102/d6c9c900b0f3b207758da2d4b6309825/l.jpg

Pamela Knox wrote

RIP Ollie - via via Walmadan Country is Calling "Ollie and Izzi were travelling in car which crashed in Wangaratta. ollie unfortunately died at the scene. Izzi in serious but stable condition at the Alfred hospital. Prayers and tributes for Ollie's family and friends tonight. He was a beautiful soul. The world will not be the same with out him." I am blessed to have met such a beautiful soul. Sincere condolences to family and friends alike - the world will miss Ollie dearly! xox "



Disabled hip hop artist joins protest
Updated October 26, 2011 17:03:25

PHOTO: East coast hip hop artist Ollie Butterfield has chained himself to Woodside machinery at James Price Point.




MAP: Broome 6725

A disabled hip-hop artist from the eastern states is the latest to join the ongoing protest against the Kimberley gas hub, chaining himself to a Woodside vehicle near the site.

Ollie Butterfield, 26, is usually wheelchair bound but has been able to climb under the vehicle where he has been sitting for several hours.

Broome police are on the scene and have issued the man with a move on notice but have not attempted to physically remove him.
http://www.myspace.com/oliverbutterfieldmusic/photos/4946906#%7B%22ImageId%22%3A4946906%7D

Woodside May Delay Decision on Browse LNG Project Until 2013

“There’s a lot of work in front of us,” Coleman said today. “We’d rather not rush to the finish line and not have any breath left. These are big decisions.”

Woodside wobbles at Christmas time and other mining dramas

Shifting sands of the Browse Basin LNG hub

The future of a $35 billion liquefied natural gas hub - originally proposed to sit at James Price Point in the Kimberley - has been shifted so many times that it now looks set to be moved more than 1000 kilometres to Karratha.

The hub's Kimberley location has garnered heavy opposition from environmental groups and some members of Aboriginal communities, with protest scenes taking centre stage on news bulletins for several weeks in 2011.

Woodside this week requested an extension on its final investment decision for the project, pushing the deadline out by a year to the middle of 2013.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/lowering-the-boom-on-was-biggest-2011-resources-bustups-20111219-1p24z.html#ixzz1hEAkfkqN http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/lowering-the-boom-on-was-biggest-2011-resources-bustups-20111219-1p24z.html

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/2011-scandals-will-stick-for-wa-miners-20111220-1p3tq.html

Woodside 'seeking alternatives' to James Price Point

Woodside 'seeking alternatives' to James Price Point
By Luke Waters
World News Australia

There are major doubts surrounding one of Australia's largest resource ventures, with Woodside Petroleum seeking to delay its $30b Kimberley gas project

While the company insists the controversial proposals at James Price Point in Western Australia will go ahead in the longer term, a final decision for the project north of Broome may now be delayed until mid-2013.

SBS's Luke Waters has learned that some analysts believe alternative locations are already being canvassed.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1613621/Woodside-seeks-delay-to-Browse-LNG-project

Woodside never at Walmadan James Price Point

Woodside Energy announcement to the Australian Stock Exchange today:

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 08:45:00 +1000 13 hours, 35 minutes ago
WOODSIDE SEEKS VARIATION TO BROWSE RETENTION LEASES

ASX Announcement Monday, 19 December 2011 WOODSIDE TO SEEK VARIATION TO BROWSE RETENTION LEASES Woodside advises that it intends to seek amendments to its Browse Basin retention leases, including a request to vary the condition relating to readiness for a final investment decision. The participants in the Browse Joint Venture are currently engaged in discussions on the final nature of this planned request for amendments. The request for amendments will be made to the Joint Authority and the WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum at the conclusion of these discussions.

The current Browse Basin retention leases require the lessees to be in a position to consider a final investment decision by mid 2012. Woodside believes an extension into the first half of 2013 may be required. While the joint venture has to date met the schedule imposed by the retention lease conditions, the variation would allow time to better evaluate the outcomes of front-end engineering and design work and the results of the tender processes for the development’s major contracts.

The revised timetable would also allow more time to complete necessary assurance activities. Contacts: MEDIA Laura Lunt W: +61 8 9348 6874 M: +61 418 917 609 E: laura.lunt@woodside.com.au INVESTORS Jeremy Hams W: +61 8 9348 6290 M: +61 412 288 781 E: investor@woodside.com.au.

ooo00ooo

As predicted by those on the money the Financial Investment Day has been adjourned to 2013, and for Western Australians, around about the time the State Government will go to the polls. The Opposition Leader Ripper got it completely wrong today about the delay in approvals. The protest has documented the lack of transparency and honesty by this State's Government on approvals, licences, permits, registrations,the dumbing down of previously creditable Government Departments and Authorities and the control that Mr Barnett has used to sell this project. If the State Government worked any faster the plant would already be built with NO approvals. Mr Ripper would do well to read the fine print of the Commonwealth State Strategic Assessment Agreement he signed with Peter Garrett in 2008. The community consultation, information and advice has been appalling and there has been no free prior informed Traditional Owner consent, proper research into alternative sites has not been completed and nor have the Social Impact Assessment criteria been developed. Mr Ripper might like to take up the argument about the quality of approvals and processes not their speed. And he's a numbers man, perhaps he should ask why the State has no business case for this project and why no economic modelling for business has been done for the economy/infrastructure of Broome and the region?

Also, as predicted, are delays associated with the Front End Engineering and Design. More from Redhand later on the engineering but suffice to say you can't build a gas plant on an old riverbed just like you can't build the new sports stadium on an old rubbish dump at Burswood.

Julia Gillard needs to do a bit of a probity test on the retention leases issue, how did Ferguson get away with this? An independent public inquiry into that must happen.

And that Woodside also "...complete necessary assurance activities." now the details of those and who provides them will be interesting?

Meanwhile,
14 September, 2011 - Blockade on Manari Road

Woodside will not get a social licence to operate.

Hands off country

Woodside's Illegal Road Works On Manari Road south of James Price Poin

What needs to be made clear in this video is the fact that the Broome Shire grader had just completed grading the road. What you are witnessing is Woodside using their equipment and undertaking their own road works which is highly illegal, hazardous and they should be prosecuted either by the Broome Shire Council and or the Department of Main Roads. This work was done in order to create a deep dangerous sandy pit, forcing people to slow down or spin out. This allows time for hostiles (Lockforce) Woodside corporate security thugs enough time to record number plates and photograph people who in travelling in Country.



What needs to be made clear in this video is the fact that the Broome Shire grader had just completed grading the road. What you are witnessing is Woodside using their equipment and undertaking their own road works which is highly illegal and should be prosecution either by the Broome Shire Council and or the Department of Main Roads. This work was done in order to create a deep dangerous sandy pit, force people to slow down or spin out. This allows time for hostiles (Lockforce) Woodside coporate security thugs enough time to record number plates and photograph people who in travelling in Country.
Woodside are not in accordance with a duly signed and sealed Instrument of Authorisation by the Commissioner of Main Roads to undertake roadwork’s, on public roads in Western Australia,

Any person or party intending to undertake an event or conduct works that may impact on traffic (including pedestrian traffic) within any part of the road reserve shall, as a condition of approval by Main Roads WA, Local Government or any other authority responsible for the road, ensure that the person performing the tasks contained in Table 4 - Main Roads' Traffic Management of Works on Roads Code of Practice hold a relevant and current traffic management certificate of accreditation.

Main Roads WA certificate and proof of certification is provided in the form of a 'Photo ID' card is issued for each category of accreditation to individuals who successfully meet the pre-requisites applicable for each level of accreditation.

Woodside did not have the necessary approvals to undertake these road works.

This roadwork was not approved by an Authorised Body nor was a MRWA approval obtained.

Woodside does not have a Traffic Management Plan for these road works.

This particular section on Manari Road is not located safely with respect to horzontal and vertical alignment. There was no signing and delineation erected to cater for this?

The transitions from the existing road to the roadworks were not safe or clearly laid out.

No speed limits were established on-site consistent with the modified road environment
.
The worksite was not clearly defined or appropriately separate from passing traffic.

The travel paths for both directions of traffic were not clearly defined.

No “Reduce Speed” signs located in accordance with the TMR Code of Practice
.
No “repeater” speed limit signs that should be erected in accordance with AS 1742.3.

No signs or devices were placed in such that they are clearly visible to approaching drivers and other.

No sign of temporary hazard markers (T5-4 and T5-5) aligned and spaced to comply with the
requirements of AS 1742.3.

No variable message signs (VMS) used compliant with the requirements of AS 1742.3

The clearances from the worksite were not consistent with the requirements of AS 1742.3

No Traffic Controllers on the worksite so no accredited, suitably attired and correctly
positioned relative to sight distance and the “Prepare to Stop” signs.

Wet season drilling worries green group - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Wet season drilling worries green group - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation: He says the proposal should be subject to public scrutiny.

"I'm hoping that these drilling proposals actually go to a public environmental review, so the public can actually get to have a look at what fluids are going to be used in the drilling in the Kimberley," he said.

"They'll get to look at the environmental management plan, so they can ascertain whether they believe Buru Energy is doing the right thing."

Aborigines block bid for gas refinery on 'Dreamtime' heritage site - Australasia - World - The Independent

Aborigines block bid for gas refinery on 'Dreamtime' heritage site - Australasia - World - The Independent: Joseph Roe, a member of the Goolarabooloo group, told ABC Radio that James Price Point was "a special place... for me and my people" because a songline – a track followed by ancestral spirits during the "Dreamtime""creation era – passed through it. Mr Roe said initiations of young men and other cultural ceremonies, known as "secret men's business", took place there.

Andrew Chalk, one of the lawyers involved in the case, claimed Woodside had known for years about the site's significance.

Broome Shire up to their neck in it at James Price Point.

All Planning and development applications, drilling permits and extensions approved and granted by the Broome Shire for Lot 259 for Woodside on behalf of the Minister of Lands or the Department of State Development are all illegal.

All the work that Woodside has undertaken over the last 12 months in Country is illegal. The shire had no jurisdiction to grant such approvals because Woodside are not the owners of the land in question. The compulsory acquisition process that was recently declared invalid means that the state is not the owner either
.
The approvals granted by the shire and the conditions placed on these original approvals granted have been either completely ignored or not implemented at all. Woodside has done everything but what they supposedly had approvals for.

Woodside can spend millions of dollars, carving up vast sways of land, clear hectares of native vegetation, establish toxic industrial lay down areas, erect permanent fencing, police locked illegal gates, establish a workers camp, site officers and install 50 bores without any appropriate and relevant Local Government Planning Approvals. The real dissolution for all their troubles will be a $500 fine and to add insult to injury they will then be issued with retrospective planning approvals.

Broome Shire and Woodside’s blatant ignorance and complete lack of respect for the Aboriginal Heritage Act or its legislation needs to be seriously questioned and passionately challenged at every opportunity. They will be held accountable.

All the planning controls for the site and the locality fall within the Shire of Broome Interim Development Order No 4. And according to this Order it states
4. Application for, and Grant of, Approval

(b) Application shall be made by or on behalf of the owner of the land and shall be accompanied by three copies of a plan or plans drawn to scale illustrating the proposed development and its location and indicating the type and construction or any buildings or works proposed.
So who is the owner of the land?

Given the fact that Lot 259 is unregulated Crown Land and the fact that either Woodside or the Minister of Lands is the owner of this land, how were any of these Shire planning approvals, drilling permits and extensions ever granted? There is still the matter of a registered native title claim over the land in question.

Who owns the land?
Given the decision handed down by the Supreme Court last week in regards to the Compulsory Acquisition Notices this question seems even more pertinent.

According to the Shire of Broome Interim Development Order NO 4
Where conditional approval to the carrying out of development is given under paragraph 4 of this Order states that no person shall commence, carry out, or complete that development otherwise than in accordance with the condition or conditions upon which the approval is given …….
Planning Approval issued by the Broome Shire on the 30th September 2010 to Woodside clearly stated that the proposal will obtain all the necessary approvals and clearance from all necessary Government Departments.

Every one of the Planning Approvals, Permits and Extensions issued to Woodside on behalf of the WA Department of State Development, by the Broome Shire had very clear Conditions placed on them in regards to the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

In November 2010 Woodside wrote to CEO of the Broome Shire seeking permission to undertake geophysical survey on Manari Road. In this correspondence Woodside clearly stated that they are aware that this survey fell within areas covered by the Aboriginal Heritage Sites Register and that they would consult with DIA.

In a Broome Shire Media release on Dec 7th 2010 it stated that Woodside is to obtain all Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Approvals prior to work being undertaken.

In January of 2011, Woodside sought an extension to this original geotechnical approval from the Shire which was also granted with the Condition 17, which stated Woodside are to obtain all necessary Aboriginal Cultural Heritage approvals prior to the work being undertaken.
Therefore, neither Woodside nor the Minister of Lands applied for, or to this date, been granted a Section 16, 17 & 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act to undertake these investigations and works. So what does the Broome shire intend to do about this?

Joseph Roe is the one and only registered Principle Informant with the Register for Aboriginal Heritage for the area concerned and has never been consulted about these works.
The Broome Shire Council has worked closely with the Goolarabooloo people for years and was one of many government agencies who sponsored the posting of signs throughout Country. These signs show the Songline in map form, with places named in proper language and even the stories of the dreaming are inscribed.

They were established in order to educate people about the presence of a highly significant and numerous Cultural Heritage Sites that stretch the entire length of the western side of the Damiper Peninsula and is commonly known as the Lurrujarri Song Cycle.

The Broome Shire logo is on every one of those signs, proudly sponsored by. How can the Shire now abandon this amazing living Songline and our precious cultural heritage and deny it now in the face of this great destructive adversity.

Out of respect why didn’t the Shire ensure or investigate when advised months ago that Woodside did not have the necessary and appropriate approvals under the Aboriginal Heritage Act.
And according to The Shire of Broome Interim Development Order NO 4
(b) Development to be carried out in accordance with approval plans
Where, pursuant to the provisions of the Order, plans indicating the form which development and other works shall take is approved by the Council, no development or other works shall be carried out otherwise than in strict accordance with the approved plans.

So like many other government agencies, who have been severely compromised and waived their legislated obligations during the whole corrupted process of getting Woodside into Country regardless of the rules and regulations, many court challenges are definitely on the drawing board for the coming new year. Many will be called to account and will be held accountable.
They will never return to Country.

http://www.sbs.com.au/news/radio/episode/195209/
Andrew Chalk, one of the lawyers for the Goolarabooloo people, on SBS News talking about what is yet to come.
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/radio/episode/195209/...www.sbs.com.au

Third parties may get a say to stop warehousing of offshore oil discoveries | The Australian

Third parties may get a say to stop warehousing of offshore oil discoveries | The Australian: This is designed to stop companies sitting on reserves while they develop other fields, in Australia or overseas.

Under the plans, the outcome after the government decided a project was economic, with the help of other interested parties, would be the same as it is now.

That is, the licence holder would get the chance to develop it now but if it declined, the licence would be forfeited and a production licence offered for sale by tender. The timing of the white paper and any new rules mean it is unlikely to have ramifications where the issue of "commerciality" could next arise; the assessment of Woodside's $30 billion-plus Browse LNG project planned for James Price Point, 60km north of Broome.

Woodside, which appears to be less enamoured in building at James Price Point under new chief executive Peter Coleman, has been told by the federal and West Australian governments that it needs to evaluate whether it is commercial to develop the Browse project there by the middle of next year.

Yesterday, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson said the government's position in relation to whether the project would be viable would be based on departmental analysis.

Fling Open The Doors & Let The Truth Come in, for James Price Point

The latest weekly update from the darkside (attached) gives more cause for celebration, as do reports from Walmadan and Manari Road: "Geotechnical operations have ceased and crews are demobilising. Equipment is being removed and the site is being made safe for anticipated rain and high winds."

EK points out, interesting that this is happening before the geotechnical surveys have been completed. Even more delays - well done Protectors!

http://www.broome.wa.gov.au/council/pdf/agenda/2011/20111214.pdf
9.4.8 REPORT RELATING TO THE STATUS OF COMPLIANCE BY WOODSIDE ON LOT 259,
JAMES PRICE POINT, DAMPIER PENINSULA

This item will be discussion in section 14, Matters Behind Closed Doors.
Saturday's rally and celebration should have made it clear to the Shire that this is an issue of great interest and concern to the community. If the Shire is serious about it's "Priority Statement" that

“ Council will strive to create an environment where local governance is delivered in an open and accountable manner; where we provide leadership to the region in such areas as planning and financial management; where the community has the opportunity to contribute to the Council's decision making thereby fostering ownership of strategies and initiatives"

Given the fact that it was members of the Broome Community who first drew the Shire's attention to all of the illegal activities undertaken by Woodside and non compliance with Planning Approvals, activities that Woodside has carried out in Country without the appropriate planning approvals. It is only right that these complaints are aired in open public discussion.

It was the Kimberley Protectors and the Walmadan Camp residents who had gathered all the evidence. They have been monitoring and recording Woodside's daily illegal activities for months and raised the issue of the tower being used for communications and not just for weather research, as their Shire Approval states.

It was the Broome community who covered the costs for all the aerial evidence. Woodside and the Shire have to answer to the community. How is it possible for a Shire Planning Approval to have three, not two but three conflicting dates on a Planning Approval?

Anyway, after lots of complaints to the Shire today by concerned residents the Shire has now put the details of the confidential matter on Woodside on the Shire web apart from the legal advice they've received. However, they are still planning to discuss the matter behind closed doors. This is just not good enough and the Broome Community NO GAS will be attending in numbers to put the heat on the Shire and Woodside tomorrow at 5pm.

Broome gas processing hub - Law Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Broome gas processing hub - Law Report - ABC Radio National (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): The latest in the ongoing dispute over a proposed 35 billion dollar gas processing hub in Broome.

Last week, the WA Supreme Court ruled that - Compulsory Land Acquisition notices issued by the WA government are invalid.

Is the decision a fundamental game changer or a temporary set back?

An attempt to lure a Woodside project to Darwin - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

An attempt to lure a Woodside project to Darwin - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation): Could the Northern Territory poach another multi-billion dollar gas project from Western Australia?

If the Territory's Chief Minister has his way, it could.

Late last week, Paul Henderson announced he had been in talks with the oil and gas company Woodside about basing its proposed $30 billion liquefied natural gas hub in Darwin.

Woodside's plans for its hub have been based at James Price Point, north of Broome in the State Government LNG precinct but there has been a setback after a recent court decision.

Protestors vow to continue gas hub fight - The West Australian

Protestors vow to continue gas hub fight - The West Australian: Traditional owner Neil McKenzie also took to the stage, commending people for their actions against the State Government, and making biblical comparisons of their fight to the battle of Jericho. "We need to keep fighting," he said. "This is the first stone we've cast out across the lake and we need to continue until we get to the other side."

Broome no gas Rally Dec 2011-Mobile.m4v - YouTube

Interestingly, there was no TV coverage of the Broome Community NO GAS Rally yesterday. When the police apparently acting on orders from above (state government) came in unbelievable force to traumatised and collapse a blockade that was put in place to stop the criminal and unlawful destruction of our cultural heritage cameras were everywhere.

Media loved the violence and the trauma inflicted on us. The State Government loved it because it sent a message to everyone in the state and if you question, blockage or attempt to stop a corporation like Woodside in the quest of greed, you will be put down.

Why didn’t the media want a feel good story about a community celebrating its tenacity?

WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER JAMES PRICE POINT

"In the face of the powerful forces arraigned against us, our communities have successfully exposed the many environmental, social and economic flaws in this project, and delayed it, to the point where it is now widely reported as a project in deep trouble.

Today we celebrate our remarkable courage and resilience in the face of unrelenting pressure from the WA government, police, Woodside personel and some sections of the media. A celebration of all we love and respect about Broome and its surrounds, of community and a of a year of wonderful action and great achievements.

Meet at 3.30pm at Male Oval Chinatown for a walk to Town Beach at 4.15pm.
We have limited supplies of bottled water. Please make sure you bring some of your own.



Setting up for the Adelaide event in solidarity with the people of Broome.

Compensation deal with Traditional Owners over gas hub may not hold: Former Judge

Compensation deal with Traditional Owners over gas hub may not hold: Former Judge
But Mr Wilcox says there's a strong legal argument that the state's agreement with Traditional Owners is now invalid.

"In order to enter into an agreement, agreeing to surrender the native title which is what the meeting (of traditional owners) agreed to, there needs to be an intention to take the land," he said.

"So if the notices are held to be invalid, the argument would be that the process has to start again.

"That means there would have to be a fresh meeting and a fresh agreement."

Unlawful FMG heritage dealing & massive sites damage at Solomon Project | Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation

Unlawful FMG heritage dealing & massive sites damage at Solomon Project | Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation