Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett

James Price Point decision brings social and economic benefits closer

Victor P Taffa

The social and economic benefits from the development of a gas processing precinct at James Price Point are closer to being realised with Woodside Energy Ltd (operator), BHP Billiton (North West Shelf) Pty Ltd, BP Developments Australia Pty Ltd, Chevron Australia Pty Ltd and Shell Development Australia Pty Ltd’s announcement that they have selected the Government’s preferred site.

Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett welcomed the decision as an important step in the State’s growth and its positioning as a major supplier on the world LNG market.

“While the nuts and bolts of this project is the development of an LNG precinct, real benefits will also flow to Aboriginal people in the area, who have overwhelmingly welcomed this development, seeing it as key to their future prosperity and self determination,” Mr Barnett said.

“The project will create thousands of jobs and position Western Australia as a world leader in the supply of clean, high-quality LNG. WA will help developing countries deliver environmentally clean energy.

“The Liberal National Government has worked tirelessly with the Kimberley Land Council (representing Traditional Owners), proponents and the Federal Government in the past 17 months to make this project a reality after it had foundered for many years.

“While there is some way yet to go with the project, today’s decision is very good news for everyone involved and points the way to a positive future for Aboriginal people in the Kimberley, the broader community and the State’s future prosperity.”

Negotiations on an Indigenous Land Use Agreement are continuing with the Kimberley Land Council, representing the Traditional Owners, to be registered this year.

The State Government and proponents are also working towards completing the environmental approvals processes by late 2010.

The next phase of the physical development would be Basis of Design, followed by Front End Engineering and Design in 2011 to enable a final investment decision by mid-2012.

A final investment decision for the development would be subject to necessary approvals and consents.

The Browse Basin has proven reserves of 30.4 Trillion cubic feet of gas (Tcf) and 600 Million barrels of condensate.

Gas reserves are estimated at 60 Tcf, making the area comparable to the North West Shelf in terms of prospectivity.

TIMELINE:

OCTOBER 15, 2008

The Liberal-National Government outlined a shortlist of sites for the gas precinct, forging ahead with the project that had languished under the previous government and, as a result, contributed to WA losing the $15 Billion INPEX project. State Government short lists four potential sites for LNG precinct. Site information released for public comment.

DECEMBER 22, 2008

After consultation, James Price Point, 60 kilometres north of Broome, is selected by Government as the precinct site. Since 2007 more than 40 possible Kimberley sites were considered for LNG processing.

APRIL 15, 2009

Broad agreement reached with KLC and Woodside on the precinct at James Price Point. Traditional Owners vote to endorse the project.

APRIL 27, 2009

Broad agreement for the precinct development signed on site with the Premier, Woodside represented by Don Voelte, and Traditional Owners represented by the Kimberley Land Council’s Wayne Bergmann.

AUGUST 12, 2009

Release of Social Impact Assessment Scope and Profile report.

OCTOBER 3, 2009

Preliminary development agreement reached between Government and Woodside to accelerate key studies and plan for gas at JPP.

DECEMBER 4, 2009

Final site just south of James Price Point selected for the 25 square kilometre Browse LNG processing precinct. The site is within the 258.2 square kilometre land area called 8589, running from Coulomb Point to Quandong Point, throughout which environmental and heritage studies were conducted to identify the best location.

Western Australia ahead of the rest

Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett

Western Australia Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman

GM choice for WA canola growers

Victor P Taffa

The State Government today announced genetically modified (GM) canola could from this year onwards be grown in Western Australia.

Western Australia Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman has approved an exemption order under the Genetically Modified Crops Free Areas Act 2003 to permit the cultivation of GM canola, which will offer growers added choice in their cropping systems.

Premier Colin Barnett said giving farmers access to GM canola fulfilled a key election promise to allow planting of GM cotton in the Ord Irrigation Scheme and the approval of commercial-size trials of canola.

“This decision brings WA into line with the other major grain-growing States, New South Wales and Victoria, where growers have been able to grow GM canola commercially since 2008,” Mr Barnett said.

“WA farmers are some of the best in the world, but they need to have access to new technology like GM canola to remain competitive in the global marketplace.”

Mr Redman said commercial trials in WA last year demonstrated successful cultivation and segregation of GM canola.

“The 17 commercial growers of GM canola throughout the agricultural areas were impressed with the performance of the GM technology package when compared with other varieties of canola,” he said.

More than 1,200 tonnes of GM canola were delivered to designated CBH Group received sites during the trial.

The report on the trials indicated there were 11 minor events and all were managed appropriately and segregation from paddock to port was achieved.

Mr Redman said GM canola yields were comparable to non-GM varieties. Growers reported the GM technology allowed efficient weed control and ease of management including the option to dry seed.

“I do not expect GM canola to be suitable for all farming systems but it provides an additional tool for WA growers. Growers continue to have the choice of growing non-GM varieties,” the Minister said.

“Western Australia is the major canola producing State in Australia and in 2008-09 we exported $535million worth of canola – most of it to our top five markets Netherlands, France, Pakistan, Japan and Belgium.

“Access to modern technology is important for WA agriculture to help growers improve profitability and maintain international competitiveness.”

Major WA grain grower organisations support broader access to GM technology. GM canola varieties available in Australia have been deemed safe for human health and the environment by the Australian Gene Technology Regulator.

A detailed report has been produced by the Department of Agriculture and Food on the 2009 GM canola trials and this would be made available to the public. The department would also provide information on growing and segregating GM and non-GM canola.

Access the report and more information on GM canola: http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/gmcrops

WA Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman