The Western Australian Government has granted State Significant Project status to Woodside’s proposed Browse to North West Shelf Project despite strong opposition from environment and conservation groups, who say it will release approximately 1.6 billion tonnes of climate pollution into the atmosphere and endanger marine animals in and around Scott Reef.
State Significant Project status represents the highest level of prioritisation available under the Western Australian Government’s Lead Agency Framework, which is designed to guide proponents through the approvals process.
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A Woodside spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying, “The Browse to North West Shelf Project is expected to support reliable domestic gas supply while delivering significant economic benefits for Western Australia.
“As Australia’s largest undeveloped offshore gas resource, the proposed development of the Browse to North West Shelf Project represents a significant opportunity to deliver decades of energy security through domestic gas supply, the potential to support thousands of jobs, and deliver benefits to regional communities in the Pilbara and Kimberley.”
Greenpeace Australia Pacific has expressed disappointment with the fossil fuel project’s determination as a State Significant Project.
Senior campaigner Hannah Schuch said, “The WA Government must not ignore the significant risks clearly associated with Woodside’s plans to drill for gas at the pristine Scott Reef—to endangered marine life, our oceans, and our climate—all of which are valued and relied upon by Western Australians.
“The WA Environmental Protection Authority has already found Woodside’s plans to drill at Scott Reef would have unacceptable impacts on the environment without considering the climate impacts of 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon pollution associated with this disastrous proposal.
“Woodside’s gas drilling plans, including seismic blasting and carbon dumping in the heart of a precious ecosystem, pose potentially fatal risks to pygmy blue whales and genetically unique green sea turtles, and could cause a catastrophic oil spill.
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“If the WA and federal governments are concerned with the prosperity of WA, they must reject Woodside’s nature and climate-wrecking proposal to drill for gas at Scott Reef.”
