Woodside calls for bilby sites to be revealed

Woodside has called on environmental group Environs Kimberley to clarify the exact location of endangered bilbies allegedly captured on film within the proposed James Price Point gas hub.

The announcement comes after rare marsupials were caught on camera earlier this month at the precinct following an extensive community- driven ecological study at James Price Point. Footage of three baby bilbies has since emerged and dozens of burrows and fresh tracks have been found.

Woodside environmental consultants carried out an $80 million environmental study and found no evidence of bilby habitation in the area.

A spokesman said Woodside has asked Environs Kimberley for details about the community research so that it can hold further surveys to document any bilby population in the area, and ensure it is not impacted by the proposed development.

“To date Environs Kimberley has not provided us with any detailed information about the location of this population,” he said.

Ecologist Malcolm Lindsay, who released footage of the marsupials, said there was some confusion regarding exactly what the “precinct” area was.

“The burrow where the photo of the mother and three babies was taken was two to three kilometres from the precinct area,” he said.

“By precinct area, we mean the actual site of the gas plant, not including the light industrial area, roads and other parts of the area surrounding the plant.

“This places the burrow in the two to three km buffer zone which has been planned around the gas plant.

“Although within a buffer zone of habitat area, it is most likely that this area will be impacted due to the light, noise and benzene pollution from the plant.”

Meanwhile, dozens of protesters congregated outside Woodside’s office in Broome last week, urging the company to stop land clearing following the bilby discovery.

During the rally, three protesters donned bilby outfits, and gave a theatrical performance of bilby behaviour in front of Woodside’s Broome office, while others displayed large banners calling for conservation of the bilbies and the Kimberley.

A police vehicle was also stationed outside the office.

District superintendent Mick Sutherland said it was not unusual for police to monitor a protest and said officers were present to ensure that protesters behaved in an orderly manner.

Director Martin Pritchard said Environs Kimberley had emailed Woodside more than a week ago asking it to assure the bilbies’ safety and to stop clearing until further study had been done, but no communication and no request for clarification on the bilbies’ location, had been received back.