The reef supports over 1500 species such as corals, endangered turtles and sea snakes, fish species and migratory whales. Photo: supplied / Nush Freedman Photography
Marine scientists, film-makers and conservationists made a 300km voyage from WA’s Kimberley coastline to Scott Reef to highlight the threats posed by Woodside’s Browse gas proposal.
The 12-strong group included author Tim Winton, singer John Butler and representatives of the Conservation Council of WA, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Environs Kimberley, Greenpeace Australia, Australian Conservation Foundation.
The Climate Media Centre says Woodside’s giant Browse gas proposal will seriously damage the reef, which supports over 1500 species such as corals, endangered turtles and sea snakes, fish species and migratory whales like the endangered pygmy blue whale.
The centre says Woodside plans to drill up to 50 gas wells around Scott Reef, some as close as 2km to it, as part of its Burrup Hub project, which could emit more than six billion tonnes of climate pollution by 2070.
“Wild places feed our spirit and our bodies and our planet. They are not a luxury – they’re a necessity,” Winton says.
“If we lose Scott Reef, it’ll signal the end for all coral reefs.”
Butler says the Woodside proposal is not about jobs, the economy, the climate or community but about profit.
“I journeyed to this incredible coral reef with some of Australia’s most successful campaigners to stop Scott Reef from being completely exploited by Woodside’s proposal for more than 50 gas wells.”
Scott Reef, WA. Nush Freedman Photography
Brinkley Davies is a marine biologist and professional surfer and free diver.
She says: “It’s really hard to get out to Scott Reef and a lot of people don’t get to come out here. There’s a lot of unique things about Scott Reef that I have not experienced anywhere else in Australia.
“It’s honestly completely baffling to me that someone could even consider threatening Scott Reef in any way.”
Jess Beckerling is executive director of the Conservation Council of WA. She says:
“It would just be incomprehensible for Woodside to be allowed to drill for gas underneath this extraordinary coral reef ecosystem, and all the incredible marine life that depend on it.”
Paul Gamblin, WA Director of the Australian Marine Conservation Society, says:
“For people who’ve had those bucket-list experiences at places like Ningaloo, it’s that kind of experience that you have at Scott Reef.
“If Scott Reef was on the east coast, Woodside’s proposal to drill for oil and gas within two kilometres of the reef would not even be considered.”
Martin Pritchard, Strategy Director at Environs Kimberley, says:
“We were right on the spot where Woodside wants to drill multiple oil and gas wells just 2km from Scott Reef. It’s clear that any oil spill there would be catastrophic.”
Geoff Bice, WA Campaign Lead at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, says: “We’re watching these places we love change before our eyes as the climate crisis accelerates; the water at Scott Reef was alarmingly warm and it hadn’t yet reached summer.”
Piper Rollins, Climate Campaigner at the Australian Conservation Foundation, says: “Woodside’s Burrup Hub is also going to contribute to the erasure of the oldest and largest collection of First Nations rock art at Murujuga, where Woodside is currently seeking a 50-year extension for their North West Shelf gas plant, the most polluting in the Southern Hemisphere.”
