The lead story in the Broome Advertiser Oct 23rd 2008
MLA Carol Martin nominated James Prices Point as her preferred locations for a gas processing hub.
Mrs Martin described Price's Point, a popular recreatioin spot, as ideal because ''it has all that rock it will give them a stable base to develop on,'' she said.
"There's other places people can go (for recreation) - there's thousands of kilometres of coastline."
The Northern Development Task report described Price's Point as technically viable, leaving Aboriginal lands on the north of the Peninsula free of industry, and offering the potential to share infrasure with Broome.
But it also said development would impact on sensitive marine industries, along with putting pressure on the tourism industry and the character of Broome.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Is North Head the preferred option?
- Woodside have stated they prefer North Head for the LNG gas presinct.
- NDT indicated that Prices Point will cost $1 Billion more than North Head.
- Premier Colin Barnett also supports North Head.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Broome Chamber of Commerce supports Prices Point
The Broome Chamber of Commerce recently did a complete turn about on the site location.
- In July 2008 they did not believe it should be near Broome because of potential business and social impacts.
- In October they supported the new Premier’s position on North Head saying that it was far enough away from Broome.
- In November, after Barnet visited Broome, the Chamber decided to support James Prices Point.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Looks like Prices Point!
The logical preferred site for an LNG gas hub in the Kimberley is Prices Point because of its proximity to Broome with its existing infrastructure. One of the key factors for the Joint Venture in their decision is the employment of an initial workforce of over 4000 which reduces to 500 in the longer term.
The Shire has rightly called for an urgent full Social Impact review to be undertaken. Will this Venture ‘break the poverty cycle’ in the Broome or will it further push the disadvantaged to the fringe because of higher prices? Won’t most of the gas industry jobs be in fact specialist positions?
Let’s not kid ourselves that the opposition of a few thousand Broome residents will stand in the way of the State and Federal Government when billions of dollars of revenue are at stake. Colin Barnett has warned that ‘he will bypass the consultation process and acquire land for the processing hub if an agreement with traditional owners can't be reached’.
If the Joint Venture aims to process gas by 2013, can’t they pipe it to the Pilbara or Darwin and leave the pristine beauty of the Kimberley in tact for Eco tourism which will generate a vast number of jobs.
Brian Kane Broome.
The Shire has rightly called for an urgent full Social Impact review to be undertaken. Will this Venture ‘break the poverty cycle’ in the Broome or will it further push the disadvantaged to the fringe because of higher prices? Won’t most of the gas industry jobs be in fact specialist positions?
Let’s not kid ourselves that the opposition of a few thousand Broome residents will stand in the way of the State and Federal Government when billions of dollars of revenue are at stake. Colin Barnett has warned that ‘he will bypass the consultation process and acquire land for the processing hub if an agreement with traditional owners can't be reached’.
If the Joint Venture aims to process gas by 2013, can’t they pipe it to the Pilbara or Darwin and leave the pristine beauty of the Kimberley in tact for Eco tourism which will generate a vast number of jobs.
Brian Kane Broome.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Prices Point is too precious
Is James Prices Point worth preserving in its natural state – after all there’s only bush, sand, pindan cliffs and rocks there? Maybe so, but anyone who has taken the time to travel the 60 kilometres from Broome on the winding track which eventually reveals the pristine beauty of this unique spot could not but be moved. Having made the trip myself on numerous occasions over the past thirty years to camp, fish and explore, it’s hard to believe that this peaceful area may soon change forever. Presently, there are no unsightly human structures of any type to be seen, no matter how far you may squint into the far horizon.
Isn’t Prices Point a very significant site for Aboriginal people who have strong connections to the Lurrujarri Trail? In a previous newspaper, the ‘Broome News’ over 20 years ago, Paddy Roe, the guardian and Law keeper stated that Price Point was a ‘non-development zone to be used as per tradition for camping, learning and recreation’.
There are limited areas within easy driving distance where ‘Broomites’ can get away and unwind, so why take away Prices Point from them? Obviously, off shore gas will bring wealth and mega development but is it worth the environmental cost?
Progress will no doubt mean a sealed road in the not to distant future where we can reach Prices Point in half the time and then won’t we be delighted to show our children the LNG gas hub?
Brian Kane
Isn’t Prices Point a very significant site for Aboriginal people who have strong connections to the Lurrujarri Trail? In a previous newspaper, the ‘Broome News’ over 20 years ago, Paddy Roe, the guardian and Law keeper stated that Price Point was a ‘non-development zone to be used as per tradition for camping, learning and recreation’.
There are limited areas within easy driving distance where ‘Broomites’ can get away and unwind, so why take away Prices Point from them? Obviously, off shore gas will bring wealth and mega development but is it worth the environmental cost?
Progress will no doubt mean a sealed road in the not to distant future where we can reach Prices Point in half the time and then won’t we be delighted to show our children the LNG gas hub?
Brian Kane
Social impact of LNG Plant at Prices Point
Don’t we appreciate so much our unspoilt beaches, our laid back outdoors lifestyle, our pearling history and our unique multicultural community here in Broome? After all, it’s the reason why we live here and it’s the magnet which draws tourists from all over the world.
Having lived in Karratha, I decided to move to Broome because I wanted to live in a town rich in social and cultural history - not a mining town! You only have to look at the impact an LNG plant has had on Karratha and on that beautiful area of the Pilbara. If this plant goes ahead at Price Point, Broome will become another Karratha where the only people who are looked after are the LNG plant workers. The rest of us will not be able to afford housing, flights, services and goods.
As well as a large number of environmental considerations, there are also the social and cultural costs of destroying our unique town. Locating an LNG plant at Prices Point will hugely upset the cultural and social fabric of this special town!
Gemma Laidlaw Broome
Having lived in Karratha, I decided to move to Broome because I wanted to live in a town rich in social and cultural history - not a mining town! You only have to look at the impact an LNG plant has had on Karratha and on that beautiful area of the Pilbara. If this plant goes ahead at Price Point, Broome will become another Karratha where the only people who are looked after are the LNG plant workers. The rest of us will not be able to afford housing, flights, services and goods.
As well as a large number of environmental considerations, there are also the social and cultural costs of destroying our unique town. Locating an LNG plant at Prices Point will hugely upset the cultural and social fabric of this special town!
Gemma Laidlaw Broome
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Prices Point Public Submission absurd timeline
28 days was an absurdly short time frame for the public to lodge their objections to the Northern Task force concerning the proposal to locate an LNG gas hub along the Kimberley coast. The site evaluation report on Prices Point refers to a ‘dredged channel’ and a ‘significant breakwater’ for the LNG tankers, the development of a land based processing hub and pipeline access over the cliff face which we are assured would be mostly buried. Do we really want the constant whirring of helicopters and the rumbling of heavy machinery along our peaceful coast line? The report does recognise that Prices Point is a ‘popular recreational area and extensively accessed by the Traditional Owners’ and important for pearling leases in the vicinity. It also acknowledges a negative effect on tourism, air services, accommodation and on the local workforce. So why destroy Prices Point which has been formed over millions of years and is nature’s gift for all of us to enjoy?
Brian Kane Broome
Brian Kane Broome
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