A DECADE after his performance to a crowd of 20,000 people at Fremantle’s Esplanade Reserve helped derail a Kimberley Gas Hub, South Freo resident John Butler was back this week to protest a renewed push from the fossil fuel industry.
Butler was giving his megastar support to the Save Scott Reef Coalition, which is hosting a film and panel night at the Fremantle Town Hall on Thursday March 14.
Oil and gas giant Woodside plans to drill near Scott Reef, 300 kilometres off the Kimberley coast, to open up the Browse gas field as part of its controversial Burrup Hub project.
Environs Kimberley strategy director Martin Pritchard says community backlash is “instrumental” to stopping the resource giant’s gas project going ahead.
• John Butler (front centre) with Martin Pritchard from Environs Kimberley and the Save Scott Reef Coalition. Photo by Katherine Kraayvanger
“This is the unknown jewel in the crown of Australia’s offshore reefs,” Mr Pritchard said.
“There would be a national outcry if Woodside was drilling for oil and gas on the Great Barrier Reef.”
“We need the same kind of response here.”
The community event is a collaboration between the Save Scott Reef Coalition, which includes Greenpeace Australia and Pacific, the Conservation Council of WA, and Broome-based environmental organisation Environs Kimberley.
Greenpeace Australia head of climate and energy Jess Panegyres says by drilling near the Reef, Woodside is risking “catastrophic” consequences for the reef.
Ms Panegyres she says is home to many species, including endangered green turtles and pygmy blue whales.
• The 20,000 protestors in 2013.
“They want to put a new fossil fuel development in a biologically important area,” Ms Panegyres said.
“It’s unacceptable.”
According to the Woodside website, the energy company has a history of “safe and reliable operations” off the Kimberley coast, including research into pygmy blue whales.
However, Conservation Council program manager Anna Chapman says Woodside is “one of WA’s biggest polluters” and by drilling near Scott Reef will affect its environment and climate.
“This sanctuary for many endangered species is now under threat from Australia’s biggest and most polluting oil and gas development,” Ms Chapman said.
“We must have no new fossil fuel projects to ensure the future of the reef and any chance of a liveable climate.”
Woodside’s response to submissions about its Browse project acknowledges that the drilling will be very close to the reef.
But it says there are ways to drill to “avoid” impacting the fragile environment.
That includes not placing any infrastructure on the reef’s shallow waters and “laterally deviated” wells to reach oil under the reef from the side.
“A detailed assessment of potential impacts from planned activities and risks posed by unplanned events or incidents has been undertaken, which included detailed modelling and assessment of aspects such as light emissions, noise emissions, PW discharge, cooling water discharge, hydrotest fluid discharge and drilling and completions discharges,” the response said.
“The assessment of these aspects concludes that with the planned controls and mitigation measures, no impacts to Scott Reef shallow water benthic communities and habitats from planned activities are predicted.”
The event will be held at Fremantle Town Hall on Thursday, March 14, at 6.30pm.
by KATHERINE KRAAYVANGER