Public consultation launched for West Kimberley gas exploration proposal

The Environmental Protection Authority has opened an eight-week public consultation period on Bennett Resources’ Valhalla proposal which would see up to 20 exploration and appraisal wells in the West Kimberley’s Canning Basin. The Valhalla Gas Exploration and Appraisal Program was referred to the EPA in accordance with regulation 2C of the Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 which requires referral of all onshore oil and gas exploration and production proposals involving hydraulic fracture stimulation. The 2020 proposal has faced significant opposition from the local population evidenced by the Department of Climate Change, Energy and Water receiving close to 3000 public comments against it. Environs Kimberley Director of Strategy Martin Pritchard said if Valhalla was approved “it would open the possibility of the Kimberley becoming a Texan style oil and gas field, with thousands of wells drilled and fracked over coming decades”. National Director of Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network Angel Owen warned that the proposal poses a serious threat to the cultural integrity of Kimberley’s Indigenous communities. “First Nations young people and communities in the Kimberley are extremely concerned about the impacts that extractive industries will have on country, climate and culture both in WA and across the country,” Ms Owen said. EPA deputy chair Lee McIntosh said public input was crucial to “ensuring a robust assessment process and achieving a good environmental outcome”. Valhalla would involve the unconventional exploration, drilling and fracking within Petroleum Exploration Permit EP 371, about 120km south-east of Derby. It includes the construction of up to 20 wells, and requires a disturbance footprint of 112ha. The proposal is solely for exploration and appraisal, and does not include gas production. Should a commercially viable resource be discovered, additional approvals from both Federal and State Governments would be necessary. The public consultation period will end on October 7, after which the EPA will review submissions and the proponent’s responses before finalising its assessment. Once the EPA publishes its recommendation, there will be a three-week public appeal period before the Minister for the Environment makes a final decision on the proposal.