Renewable energy advocates have criticised the federal government’s rejection of one of the world’s most ambitious green energy projects in north-west Western Australia, despite potentially catastrophic impacts for a globally significant wetland if the project proceeds in its current form.
The workforce was to be fly-in, fly-out, the seabed disturbance minimal; an above and below-ground transmission cable corridor would carry the energy to the coast where four subsea cables would run through the marine park. The biggest environmental impact was to be the clearing of about 12,000 hectares of native vegetation.
The eastern curlew, photographed near Broome, is one of the species dependent on the Eighty Mile Beach wetland.
“Given the importance to the environment of reducing dependence on fossil fuels, I would have expected more interest by the federal agency to work through the issue ... we will be seeking further clarification.”The proponent had not given any spill mitigation or management plans, despite the potential for an ammonia spill to completely destroy the wetland.
“The federal government is all too willing to fast-track coal and gas projects, including throwing billions of taxpayer dollars at subsidies for exploration, infrastructure for new gas basins and unproven carbon capture and storage.
Emma_J_Young FACT CHECK : GREAT NEWS