The EPA reached its finding due to a wide range of major concerns about environmental, nature and pollution impacts, according to a letter the EPA sent to Woodside Energy in February this year.
Browse, Australia's largest untapped conventional gas field, is located off the coast of the pristine Kimberley region in WA, beneath the extraordinary Scott Reef. Woodside proposes to drill more than 50 wells around the Scott Reef system and pipe Browse gas more than 900 km along the ocean floor to the North West Shelf / Karratha Gas Plant at the Burrup Hub to be processed for export.
According to reports, the ten-page EPA letter to Woodside refers to the proposal's unacceptable potential impacts on endangered Pygmy Blue Whales, the threat to endangered Green Turtles and the risk of pollution and oil spills at the highly biodiverse and fragile Scott Reef.
It is understood that the letter makes numerous references to EPA objectives not being met. The EPA's legislated objectives are to protect the environment and to prevent pollution.
This is a significant and historic finding by the WA EPA. Only two out of 100 oil and gas proposals have been recommended against by the WA EPA since the mid-1980s (see attached). Given the history of political pressure applied to the WA EPA by Woodside and the WA government, it is imperative that the EPA process is independent and free from political or corporate interference.
It is understood that Woodside has requested more time to respond to the EPA, which will then make its final recommendation to the State Government. Both the State and Federal governments will then make final decisions on whether Browse can go ahead.
Jess Beckerling, the Executive Director of the Conservation Council of WA, said today:
"This is a major blow for Woodside's plan to develop the biggest new gas field in Australia.
"The WA EPA has recognised the unacceptable threat posed by Browse to the magnificent Scott Reef and the marine life off the Kimberley coast.
"Woodside has been trying to get this project over the line for many years but they cannot make it work, given the profound impacts it would have on Scott Reef, Green Turtles and Pygmy Blue Whales."
"The EPA has now said what we knew all along - the Browse project would be devastating for WA's environment, and no government should let it proceed.
"The EPA has only recommended against two other oil and gas proposals since the 1980s, which goes to show the profound impacts that this proposal would have on the environment - what was Woodside thinking trying to develop a massive gas project on top of a pristine coral reef?"
"It is now incumbent on the WA and Federal Governments to respect this independent scientific advice and expert opinion, and refuse Woodside's application to develop Browse," Ms Beckerling said.
Woodside has previously abandoned controversial plans to process Browse gas onshore at James Price Point in the Kimberley (2013), or a floating LNG processing platform offshore (2016).
The current assessment of the Browse gas project commenced in 2019. Browse is the largest part of Woodside's Burrup Hub mega-expansion, which has been projected to emit 6 billion tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime and drawn widespread opposition.
Martin Pritchard, Director of Strategy at Environs Kimberley, said today:
"The Kimberley coast is like nowhere else, and Scott Reef is the jewel in its crown. Community opposition already stopped Woodside at James Price Point and this is the nail in the coffin for Browse gas.
"This finding further demonstrates the importance of a strong and independent EPA to ensure that the extraordinary natural environment of Western Australia and the places we all love are protected.
It's the EPA's job to protect the extraordinary environment of Western Australia - and rejecting Woodside's polluting Browse project is doing just that."
"Browse would be devastating for WA's environment and it cannot go ahead."
Paul Gamblin, WA Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said today:
"Woodside has failed for decades to read the room on its appalling plans for Scott Reef, as it seeks to impose its fossil fuel industrial development on this spectacular coral reef.
"Imagine the outcry if Woodside tried this on at Ningaloo Reef. Scott Reef is world-class, and fragile, like Ningaloo. Scott Reef's remoteness has worked in Woodside's favour - it's been out of sight and out of mind - but its importance and status are now being widely recognised.
"It's high time the Woodside joint venture abandoned its plans around the magnificent Scott Reef. Scott Reef is not owned by the oil and gas industry, it belongs to us all."
