WA: Federal govt next in queue to approve Gorgon gas project

AAP General News (Australia)
08-10-2009
WA: Federal govt next in queue to approve Gorgon gas project

PERTH, Aug 10 AAP - The West Australian government has given final environmental approval
to the nation's biggest resource project.

Environment Minister Donna Faragher on Monday announced the latest step in the process
towards development of the expanded $50 billion Chevron-led Gorgon liquefied natural gas
project on Barrow Island.

Ms Faragher said final approval for the project was granted with "strong, new environmental
conditions to provide higher levels of protection for regionally significant coral reefs
and flatback marine turtles".

She said under the conditions of approval, coral lost through dredging would be confined
to three per cent of the total coral area off the east coast of the island.

Monitoring would be "extended to significant coral reef outcrops outside impact zones", she said.

Artificial light emissions would also be minimised to protect the local population
of flatback marine turtles and the turtle conservation plans would be extended from 30
years to the total life of the project.

She said it was the first time that management of light emissions has been required
as a project condition.

"In addition, I have required that the proponent's undertakings on the flatback turtle
intervention program are incorporated into the project conditions," she said in a statement.

"This will require the proponent to enhance the turtle population through means such
as establishing hatcheries should the island's turtle numbers show decline."

The project's environmental approval process is now in the hands of federal Environment,
Heritage and Arts Minister Peter Garrett, who visited Barrow Island last week.

Business groups have already applauded last month's conditional approval of the project
by the WA government.

AAP was/apm

KEYWORD: GORGON

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