Traditional owners approve gas hub

Agreement was reached on May 6th 2011 between the State Government, Woodside Energy Ltd and the Goolarabooloo Jabirr Jabirr (GJJ) native title claim group for the gas hub at Prices Point.
The Traditional Owners have agreed to relinquish their native title interests in the 3,500ha of land (35 SQUARE KILOMETRES) and water required for the precinct in return for substantial benefits for indigenous people and continuing engagement in environmental and cultural heritage management at the precinct.

The agreement came after 4 years of negotiation.

When the precinct is no longer required the land will be remediated and returned to traditional owners as freehold.

The benefits are valued at more than $1.5billion over 30 years of the Woodside project and include:
· funds to establish businesses and investment
· funds for joint ventures (Indigenous Rangers program and cultural awareness training.) Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011 page 7.
· funds for the building of homes for GJJ and other indigenous people· funds for education initiatives (literacy and work related programs - Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011.
· land for housing and businesses· funds to support initiatives to address the social impacts of the precinct· direct employment through the construction and operation of the precinct ("300 Indigenous jobs during construction" Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011 page 7 and minimum 15% of the work force will be Indigenous when it is operational (Broome Advertiser Nov 10, 2011 page 7)
· indirect employments through businesses maintaining and servicing the precinct
· State Government (Port Authority and LandCorp) and proponent training programs· State Government (Port Authority and LandCorp) and proponent employment obligations and targets
· contract and tendering opportunities for GJJ buisnesses· funds to enable traditional owners of the Kimberley to support, promote and protect Aboriginal culture and heritage· reform of indigenous land tenure on the Dampier Peninsula to allow for home ownership and create economic development opportunities· funds for the creation and joint management of conservation areas with the State Government (DEC).

"Benefits would be extended to Aboriginal people of the Dampier Peninsula and the wider Kimberley - delivering an unprecedented level of economic independence" Broome Advertiser July 7th 2011 page 4

Shire approves Woodside camp for Browse

Broome Shire councillors approved Woodside's application for a temporary off site workers camp. The 45 hectare camp (HALF A SQUARE KILOMETRE) location is 15 kilometres from Broome and set 200 metres back from the Broome Derby Highway. It is also the site of the future airport for Broome. Purpose of the camp: 1. Early clearing of land. 2. build a temporary marine off-loading facility at the Browse LNG Precinct. 3. to accommodate workers employed to build the construction village at the Prices Point site. Plans for the camp: 1. accommodation for 600 workers. 2. restaurant and tavern/beer garden.medical, security and emergency response building. 3. recreational facilities - swimming pool and sports court. Timeline: 1.Detailed design phase at present. 2.construction to start if final investment decison is taken expected mid 2012. 3. facility operational 2 years later. The council motion included the condition to return the site to its orgininal state should the gas development at Prices Point not go ahead.