Australia’s Galapagos in threat

Barrow Island from space. Photo: NASAThe Australian government’s approval for the Gorgon Project has triggered protests from environmentalists. The proposed project – operated jointly by Chevron and Exxon – plans to develop the Greater Gorgon gas fields, located between 130kilometres and 200kilometres off the north-west coast of Western Australia.

"This is a sad day for Barrow, but we will not give up. The area is a safe haven for many endemic species, and the most important rookery for flatback turtles in Western Australia," said Dr Gilly Llewellyn, WWF's Conservation Manager.

"We do not believe there are any conditions that could be imposed on this development to allow both safe operation of a massive LNG facility and the survival of important species such as the flatback turtle and the burrowing bettong.”

"Barrow Island is Australia’s Galapagos - it deserves much better treatment than this."

Prior to the announcement, WWF urged the Federal Government to reconsider the project's location due to Chevron's plans to make the plant 50 per cent larger than originally approved.

"In light of this expansion, we believe environmental approval should have gone back to the drawing board. There needs to be better planning and better strategic environmental assessments to make sure we do not lose any vulnerable species to this project.

"There are alternatives to Barrow Island for Gorgon."

Dr Llewellyn stressed that WWF's main concern was the location of the project.
"WWF understands governments' interest in the economic benefits from projects like Gorgon. However we are opposed to its location on Barrow Island - a Class A nature reserve, surrounded by coral reefs, which acts as a refuge for many species.

"And while the project should include facilities for the safe underground storage of carbon dioxide, this does not justify locating the project on Barrow Island."

WWF will call for the project to be built at a more appropriate location on the mainland – like Ashburton North near Onslow - and is asking the oil and gas companies involved in the project to do the right thing and relocate.

"Do Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil fully appreciate the environmental consequences of what they are doing?" said Dr Llewellyn.

"We are asking them to act responsibly, to listen to the concerns of environment groups, scientists and the community, and move the project to an onshore location."