A 'disappointing' decision

Woodside’s decision to pull out of the highly controversial James Price Point LNG processing plant has created waves of bittersweet emotions in Broome.

The debate surrounding the proposal has been divisive since Woodside and the State and Federal governments signed an in-principle agreement with the Kimberley Land Council to develop the hub, 60km north of Broome.

It pitched environmentalists against industrialists and businesses against locals, driving a wedge through the heart of the town. The arguments for and against also divided the traditional owners.

They stood to benefit from a $1.3 billion package over 30 years for things such as housing, education and job training.

Former KLC executive director Wayne Bergmann believes they should still receive compensation.

“Given the politics and the pressure Woodside and the State Government put Aboriginal people under and the silence of the joint venture parties, I believe there is an obligation to ensure the benefits as agreed under the (Browse LNG) agreement and that traditional owners are able to get on with their lives and proceed with building their futures,” he said.

Waardi Ltd — the administrative body for the Goolarabooloo and Jabirr Jabirr native title claim group — says it was an opportunity lost and millions of dollars supporting indigenous custodians have now turned to dust.

“We are obviously disappointed in terms of the benefits that could have flowed to the traditional owners and local community,” Waardi chairman Warren Greatorex said.

“However, it’s a commercial decision as Woodside has stated.”

Kimberley Land Council chief executive Nolan Hunter said the Browse LNG precinct project agreement had provided a “once in a lifetime” commitment for Aboriginal people.

“Regardless of different views, the opportunity to negotiate a deal of this size and amount will never be available again,” he said.

“This was a very robust and time consuming process that gave indigenous people the right to make a decision about their land.”

Broome Shire president Graeme Campbell said the decision was disappointing, given the amount of work that has gone into this project.

“But it was always understood by the Shire of Broome that the decision to proceed or not would be based on economic grounds and no other reason,” he said.

“There is no doubt that some businesses gearing themselves up for this project will probably leave town.

“How do we work to replace those? That is what we need to do looking to the future. It is no use just being all sour grapes and saying we are doomed. This is a resilient town and we need to look at how we continue to make it resilient.”

The project promised to create hundreds of local jobs, starting with recently granted permission for contractor Decmil to build a camp for almost 1000 workers.

That will now be shelved along with multimillion-dollar plans for a new terminal at Broome International Airport for the LNG workforce.

BIA chief executive Nick Belyea said he was concerned many Broome businesses and the local economy would be hit hard and that families would leave Broome.

“The economic ripple effect on the local economy from this decision will be felt throughout the Broome community and it is certainly an opportunity lost,” he said.

“The LNG plant workforce would have grown our air services and would have been the ideal catalyst for an international service to Singapore that would also have provided tourism benefits.”

Broome Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive officer Maryanne Petersen has called a meeting with Woodside bosses next week to discuss the ramifications in detail.

“The whole shooting match is not off, there are other ways of the development progressing,” she said. “Clearly, it is not going to be the level we anticipated.”