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Turtle blocks $11bn gas project
From: AAP
June 06, 2006
A LITTLE known turtle has blocked – at least for now – Western Australia's much vaunted $11 billion Gorgon LNG project.
WA's Environmental Protection Authority said today the huge gas export project on Barrow Island off WA's far north coast was environmentally unacceptable mainly because of the risk to the rare and threatened flatback turtle.
It is the second time the EPA has rejected the Gorgon proposal, which was first rejected in July 2003.
But WA Cabinet overrode the EPA decision in September 2003, allowing restricted access to Barrow Island to the project which is forecast to provide 6000 jobs and boost Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) by $2 billion.
Today EPA chairman Wally Cox said subsequent work done by the Gorgon joint venture partners – ExxonMobil, Shell and project operator Chevron – had highlighted the land and marine conservation values of the island and surrounding waters.
"Flatback turtles in particular would be put at risk from the proposal with two of the most important nesting beaches located adjacent to the proposed LNG processing plant site and the materials off-loading facility," Dr Cox said.
"There is very little science available on the life-cycle, behaviour and feeding habits of flatback turtles and as a consequence it is not possible at this time to identify management measures that would ensure ongoing survival of this Pilbara flatback turtle population.
"As a result, the proposal in its present form cannot meet the EPA's environmental objectives and is considered environmentally unacceptable."
Flatback adult turtles shells grow up to 99cm and weigh about 90kg. They live in bays, coastal shallow reefs and grassy shallows and eat sea cucumbers, jellyfish, molluscs, prawns, other invertebrates and seaweed.
Dr Cox also said the partners had not been able to demonstrate risk could be reduced to satisfactory levels in areas such as dredging and the introduction of non-indigenous species.
The Gorgon field has enough gas to power a city of one million people for more than 800 years and there has been enough reserves set aside to power WA for 40 years.
Gorgon LNG is one of seven big gas projects – worth an estimated total of $50 billion – being considered for development in WA.
The joint venture partners are due to make a final investment decision on the project towards the end of the year or early in 2007.
The EPA recommendation will now be sent to the state and federal environment ministers with a ministerial decision due towards the end of the year.
http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19381201-31037,00.html
From: AAP
June 06, 2006
A LITTLE known turtle has blocked – at least for now – Western Australia's much vaunted $11 billion Gorgon LNG project.
WA's Environmental Protection Authority said today the huge gas export project on Barrow Island off WA's far north coast was environmentally unacceptable mainly because of the risk to the rare and threatened flatback turtle.
It is the second time the EPA has rejected the Gorgon proposal, which was first rejected in July 2003.
But WA Cabinet overrode the EPA decision in September 2003, allowing restricted access to Barrow Island to the project which is forecast to provide 6000 jobs and boost Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) by $2 billion.
Today EPA chairman Wally Cox said subsequent work done by the Gorgon joint venture partners – ExxonMobil, Shell and project operator Chevron – had highlighted the land and marine conservation values of the island and surrounding waters.
"Flatback turtles in particular would be put at risk from the proposal with two of the most important nesting beaches located adjacent to the proposed LNG processing plant site and the materials off-loading facility," Dr Cox said.
"There is very little science available on the life-cycle, behaviour and feeding habits of flatback turtles and as a consequence it is not possible at this time to identify management measures that would ensure ongoing survival of this Pilbara flatback turtle population.
"As a result, the proposal in its present form cannot meet the EPA's environmental objectives and is considered environmentally unacceptable."
Flatback adult turtles shells grow up to 99cm and weigh about 90kg. They live in bays, coastal shallow reefs and grassy shallows and eat sea cucumbers, jellyfish, molluscs, prawns, other invertebrates and seaweed.
Dr Cox also said the partners had not been able to demonstrate risk could be reduced to satisfactory levels in areas such as dredging and the introduction of non-indigenous species.
The Gorgon field has enough gas to power a city of one million people for more than 800 years and there has been enough reserves set aside to power WA for 40 years.
Gorgon LNG is one of seven big gas projects – worth an estimated total of $50 billion – being considered for development in WA.
The joint venture partners are due to make a final investment decision on the project towards the end of the year or early in 2007.
The EPA recommendation will now be sent to the state and federal environment ministers with a ministerial decision due towards the end of the year.
http://finance.news.com.au/story/0,10166,19381201-31037,00.html
