Communities from across the Kimberley will gather in Broome against new gas projects planned for the region, including Woodside’s Burrup Hub, new fracking proposals, and Buru Energy’s proposed floating liquefied gas facility off the Kimberley coast.

Environs Kimberley, Traditional Owners, scientists, musicians, elders and Greenpeace crew will meet to discuss the threats and solutions to new and expanding gas projects in the Kimberley.

It’s the first time Greenpeace’s flagship the Rainbow Warrior has docked in Broome, as it sails West Australia’s coastline to document the precious marine biodiversity at threat from new gas.

The meeting comes 10 years after the James Price Point protests, which forced Woodside to abandon its plans for the Browse gas field and an LNG gas factory near Broome. 

Greenpeace Head of Clean Transition Jess Panegyres said the Kimberley is an incredibly special region that must be protected. 

“The Kimberley is precious – its land, its coast, its culture – but is at serious risk as the climate warms. We are proud to stand with communities across the Kimberley who are calling for no new gas in order to safeguard their future,” she said.

“At Greenpeace we’re very concerned about Woodside’s plan to open up the Browse gas field 400km North of Broome, part of its mega Burrup Hub project. Not only would Browse release over a billion tonnes of additional climate pollution, but Woodside also want to drill at the beautiful Scott Reef, placing multiple marine parks and endangered marine life at risk”. 

Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard said the Kimberley community is again calling for an end to gas and fracking in the region.

“A decade ago, the Kimberley community rallied to shut down Woodside’s proposed Browse LNG gas terminal at James Price Point. We won. Now, we are ready to show a force of strength again against Buru Energy, and let them know the community is behind us, and we wont stand for their new plans,” he said.

“Buru Energy has picked a fight with the wrong community. The Kimberley has stood strong against gas and fracking giants for years. We are more determined than ever to prove the Kimberley is worth protecting.” 

Climate projections alarming

The Kimberley has been at the frontline of climate change, which contributed to a spate of devastating flooding disasters this year.

Climate models suggest the Kimberley will suffer a predicted temperature increase of up to 2.5C in the next 30 years and become unliveable by 2090 if current global warming trajectory continues.

Pritchard said the imminent threat of climate catastrophe in the Kimberley cannot be ignored. 

“The Kimberley has recently suffered the devastating impacts of climate change in the form of flooding. Our days are projected to get hotter, and our next generation will be forced to leave if the Kimberley becomes unlivable. We are facing catastrophic climate threats if we don’t take serious action. New gas and oil fracked and extracted from the ground will decimate this special place.” 

—ENDS—