SYDNEY/PERTH, Thursday 5 Sept 2024 — The dusky sea snake has been newly-listed as endangered by Federal Environment Minister Plibersek amidst mounting concern about the environmental impacts of Woodside’s Burrup Hub gas project.
Woodside plans to drill up to 50 gas wells just kilometers from Scott Reef, a critical habitat for the dusky sea snake, as part of its Burrup Hub gas project. Calls to protect the rare species could have major consequences for the proposed development, which is currently undergoing State and Federal environmental approvals.
If approved, Woodside’s Burrup Hub would be the largest and most polluting new fossil fuel project in the country.
Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:
“The listing of the dusky sea snake as endangered must be a wake-up call for Woodside and Environment Minister Plibersek: the Burrup Hub gas project is too risky to proceed, and will create an extinction risk for marine animals.
“Woodside’s plans involve drilling for gas underneath Scott Reef, a pristine oceanic reef the Department describes as ‘a stronghold for the dusky sea snake’.
“Minister Plibersek’s commitment to ‘no more extinctions’ under this Government will ring hollow if she does not immediately follow her own department’s advice to protect Scott Reef by urgently reducing and eliminating threats from the fossil fuel industry.
“Crucial reforms to our national nature law have stalled in parliament — which means Woodside can get away with drilling for gas in critical habitat for the dusky sea snake, as the species was listed after Woodside’s approval document was submitted.”
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Images of Scott Reef marine life and Greenpeace protests can be found here
For more information or interviews contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]
or Frankie Adkins on 0402 316 996 or [email protected]