Hi all
If you are interested in the protection of the Kimberley coast and
concerned about the proposal to build a massive LNG plant on Maret
Island, you should read this;
http://www.inpex.com.au/upload/docs/DEV-EXT-RP-0014_Rev_4.pdf. Rather
than address consequences of a major industrial development, the 162
pages of this document reads more like a hypothetical course outline for
a first year ecology student. (example of avian management, see page 116).
Within the document, there are no adequate processes recommended to
identify adverse impacts on birds, there are no management prescriptions
to protect birds. There are no mention of strategies to avoid impacts on
birds from ongoing plant operations, gas flare and night lights etc.
etc. With a proposal of this magnitude, at the very least, there
should be some recommended process for evaluating evidence.
I would like to see independent consultative groups of experts
adjudicating on natural and cultural heritage values of the area and
given authority to make binding decisions on the proponent. In this
instance however the methodology is irrelevant because there is
absolutely no need to build a central processing facility for LNG in the
Kimberley.
The preferred alternative to LNG processing on Maret Island or any part
of the Kimberley coast is piping directly to the existing gas processing
facilities on Burrup Peninsula in the Pilbara, well away from the
Kimberley and any passerine flyway. And the proponent should pay for
the pipeline costs. Don't worry, they can afford it. LNG is selling
to our whale friendly neighbours on long term contracts for the
ridiculously cheap price of less than 10 cents per litre,
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22374847-3122,00.html
The Hon Mr Garret has informed us in his recent press release
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/video-tr20080205.html
that "While our search for a single hub will focus on the Kimberley, we
will also consider options outside the region". So we now know that
Govt. is looking at one only processing site to avoid ad-hoc
developments in naturally valuable areas such as the Kimberley coast..
As a humble retired Kimberley fisherman and before that, an officer of
the SA Department of Environment serving in the outback with
responsibility for among other things, writing wildlife and park
management plans for remote areas including the Cooper Basin Oil fields,
experience taught me that petrochemical companies run by accountants
have one major aim and that is to make money for shareholders.
Environmental and social consequences from proposed developments
although given lip service are rarely considered seriously except in the
context of how to get around problems to obtain a project approval.
The concept of abandoning such a proposal as this to conserve natural
values is almost unheard of. Oil companies will relentlessly pressure
Govt. for acceptance of their proposals usually convincing the people
with the power that the project is in the national interest and that
minimal environmental sacrifice is justified. It is distressing that
the natural values of the Kimberley coast could be traded for a no
better treason than to subsidize cheap international gas sales. Where
does that serve the national interest?
Regards
Ian May
St Helens Marine Services
PO Box 110, St Helens. Tas 7216
Ph 03 6376 1966
Ph 03 6312 1123
Mob: 0428337956
Ian May wrote:
Hi all
Our birding fraternity should be aware that a Japanese? consortium,
Inpex Pty Ltd intends to develop a gas processing plant on Maret
Islands on the Kimberley Coast.
http://www.projectconnect.com.au/Project_Details.asp?PID=335 Located
at 14'26" S, 124'59" E in the north eastern part of the Buccaneer
archipelago, the Maret Islands are part of the most untouched, truly
pristine area of Australia's coast, an area so remote that few
observers have ever visited them. Till now, its remote location has
assisted to protect the area but remoteness is a two edged sword
because now, without adequate Govt. legislation to protect them, their
isolation is contributing to the lack of public knowledge and
awareness that is being exploited by Inpex through proposals to
develop the area.
>From 1992 to 1999, my wife Patricia and I were commercial fisherman
regularly working the areas adjacent to Maret Islands for Beche-de-mer
(Trepang) and Spanish Mackerel.. We soon learned that these island
and the surrounding Kimberley coast are one of the most precious and
special areas that exist teeming with diverse marine and terrestrial
wildlife. On this list we often hear about the importance of Ashmore
Reef to birds but other not so well known island and reef systems in
the area are just as important but for additional reasons. The Maret,
Montilivet and Cassini Island groups lay within a passerine migration
corridor that is the shortest route from Indonesia to Cape Voltaire
and Cape Bougainville on the mainland of Australia. At anchor during
calm moonless nights of March and April, with deck lights on, masses
of passerines comprising many hundreds of flycatchers, swallows,
pipits, drongos and other unidentified birds would silently flutter
past through our arcs of light heading north. To a lesser extent we
would also observe this in late July, August as well when birds were
headed south.
Often we would notice that our deck lights would disorientated birds
and when this was observed, we would shut off the lights. It beggars
belief that anyone would contemplate building any light structure, not
withstanding a flaming gas processing structure any where near this
passerine migration flyway. Additional to this, during the wet
season the Maret Island are also a breeding location for Roseate and
also Bridled Terns. Of significance Rose-crowned Pigeons and
Kimberley Honeyeater and anyones guess what else, are numerous there too.
Anyone interested in birds should watch these development proposals
with concern, find out what is proposed and be prepared to bring the
roof down if the people with the power allow this one to proceed.
Notwithstanding additional cost, off shore ship based processing
plants could be developed west of the passerine flyway and avoid most
of these impacts. Anyone know the email address of Peter Garrett and
the "Save the Kimberley Group"?
Regards
Ian May
PO Box 110
St Helens, Tasmania 72126
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