North West Shelf decision ready to rock

The good news on energy is that new federal Environment Minister Murray Watt appears ready to sign off on the extension to the North West Shelf gas project in Western Australia. This is after a scientific monitoring program was able to allay fears that emissions from the project might cause acid rain or otherwise harmfully affect the surrounding rock art.

There are up to one million ancient Aboriginal engravings, or petroglyphs, in the Burrup Peninsula area depicting human-like figures, human faces and animals that no longer inhabit the region, dating back an estimated 30,000 years. The rock art has been able to survive because of a combination of hard rock and low rainfall in the area. Preservation of the rock art has been a valid concern given its age, significance and widespread distribution on the Burrup Peninsula.

But the results of the exhaustive scientific investigation found that while there had been some erosion because of past industrial activity, current practices at the gas processing terminal posed no threat. There was no incidence of acid rain, as had been claimed by protest groups, and any damage that had occurred previously was because of different circumstances and practices from the 1970s. The Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, the body established by the West Australian government to represent the traditional owner groups of the Burrup Peninsula, said it was confident there was a robust scientific program to achieve lasting protection of the rock art.

The study results open the way for Senator Watt to make a long overdue decision on whether the North West Shelf gas project can be extended to 2070. Former environment minister Tanya Plibersek had resisted making a decision over what is one of the nation’s biggest and most important resource projects. That the draft scientific report had been made available in mid-20204 but not released until now is a poor reflection on how the process was handled.

Claims by Indigenous activist Raelene Cooper that any decision by Senator Watt ahead of an 11th-hour court application she had made to stop it would be a “ deeply cynical act” do not ring true. Senator Watt has justifiably stared down environment groups that have tried every avenue to stymie the North West Shelf extension. Environment groups consistently have overplayed their hand in their attempts to exploit cultural concerns to push their anti-development agenda. Having got the scientific backing, Senator Watt must act and do what must be done, and quickly.