Green groups fail in bid to delay federal call on Woodside proposal

Two major conservation groups have lost their bid to further delay Environment Minister Murray Watts’ decision on Woodside’s 50-year North West Shelf extension.

The deadline for a decision on the controversial proposal was delayed from March 31 until May 31 as a result of a “reconsideration request” from the Conservation Council of WA and Greenpeace Australia to bring more of Woodside’s Burrup Hub vision into the minister’s assessment.

Woodside wants to extend the life of its North West Shelf gas project in WA.

Both Greenpeace and the Conservation Council WA argued Woodside’s $30 billion Browse gas field development proposal – which would use North West Shelf assets – and the company’s plans to build a carbon capture and storage facility should all be considered together.

On Wednesday, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water notified the two groups that request was denied, paving the way for an imminent decision on the NWS proposal by Watt, who visited WA this week.

The hub on the Burrup Peninsula in WA’s north-west is expected to generate 4.3 billion tonnes of emissions over its lifespan, more than 10 times the nation’s current annual total.

CCWA executive director Matt Roberts was disappointed with the department’s decision.

“We have been saying all along that without the North West Shelf, there is no Browse gas project, the plant is dependent on the approval of drilling operations in and around the pristine Scott Reef in WA’s north-west to supply the gas plant on the Burrup Peninsula,” he said.

“This extension is the centrepiece of Woodside’s Burrup Hub, opening up widespread industrialisation of WA’s oceans and iconic Pilbara and Kimberley landscapes.

“We strongly urge Minister Watt not to put the cart before the horse by approving the most polluting fossil fuel plant in the Southern Hemisphere and opening a pathway for drilling and carbon dumping operations at Scott Reef.”

Greenpeace WA campaign lead Geoff Bice shared Roberts’ sentiments.

“The North West Shelf facility is one of Australia’s dirtiest and most polluting fossil fuel projects — the decision to refuse Greenpeace’s reconsideration request brings Woodside one step closer towards drilling for dirty gas at Scott Reef,” he said.

A Woodside spokeswoman welcomed the decision.

“Timely approval of the North West Shelf Extension is critical to ensure this nationally significant asset continues to support thousands of direct and indirect jobs, provide billions of dollars in taxes and royalties, and deliver future gas supply to Western Australian businesses and homes,” she said.

A DCEEW spokeswoman said the reconsideration requests did not meet the requirements of Commonwealth environmental laws and were found to be invalid.

The NWS extension proposal would allow Woodside to continue using its Karratha Gas Plant and associated facilities until the 2070s.

The extension is crucial for its plans to develop the Browse gas fields.

The project has the backing of the WA government, which last year awarded it environmental approval after six years of assessment.

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