Kimberley heritage listing: the verdict

The site of Woodside’s $30 billion proposed liquefied natural gas hub in Western Australia won’t be included in the heritage listing of the west Kimberley.

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke announced near Broome this morning that more than 19 million hectares of the west Kimberley will be given national heritage listing.

But the Woodside project at James Price Point, 60km north of Broome, will not be included in the listing.

“The west Kimberley belongs on a list of the places which define Australia,” Mr Burke said in a statement.

“Its unique wildlife, stunning coastlines, spectacular gorges and waterfalls, ancient and ongoing Aboriginal cultural traditions as well as its pastoral and pearling history make this one of the most remarkable places in our nation.”

Areas in the west Kimberley identified as having outstanding heritage values and inscribed on the National Heritage List include:

• The incredible natural beauty of the coast from the Buccaneer Archipelago to the King George River; the Mitchell Plateau; King George Falls; Geikie Gorge, Windjana Gorge and King Leopold Ranges;

• Rich biodiversity, including many plants, mammals, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates that are found only in this part of Australia;

• Remnants of a vast coral reef, similar in scale to the Great Barrier Reef, that existed nearly 400 million years ago;

• Dinosaur footprints on the west coast of the Dampier Peninsula which are remarkable remnant of past life in the region;

• Ongoing Aboriginal traditions associated with Wanjina and the Rainbow Serpent and spectacular rock;

• Sites which tell a more recent history including Jandamarra, the dispute at Noonkanbah Station and the drove to Fossil Downs which became the longest overlanding cattle drive in Australia’s history; and

• Evidence of early contact with Indonesia as well as early European exploration of the Australian continent.

“Following a long and comprehensive assessment by the Australian Heritage Council, which included a lot of feedback from communities and my own consultation with the people who live and work in the region, I have determined that the west Kimberley is a fitting addition to the national heritage list,” Mr Burke said.

The area includes many plants, mammals, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates that are found only in this part of Australia.

There are also remnants of a coral reef, similar in scale to the Great Barrier Reef, that existed nearly 400 million years ago.

Mr Burke said it was important to note that the listing “does not prevent development”.

“National heritage listing protects heritage values - it is not an automatic lock-up,” he said.

Environmental lobby groups have slammed the exclusion of the gas hub site.

The Wilderness Society's national campaign director Lyndon Schneiders said the listing would be meaningless if the Browse gas precinct, proposed to be built at James Price Point, went ahead.

“Minister Burke will not be remembered for heritage listing the Kimberley if James Price Point proceeds,” Mr Schneiders said.

“Rather he’ll be remembered as the Minister who handed the Kimberley over to industrialisation.”

He said direct impacts would be significant but indirect impacts would be “catastrophic” for the entire region, destroying Broome’s social fabric and character.

Although the Woodside site has not been included in the listing, The West Australian understands the company will have to protect 130-million-year-old dinosaur footprints north of the planned gas precinct, 60km north of Broome.

Opponents of the gas hub have been protesting at the James Price Point site for weeks. Many hope a favourable heritage listing would aid their cause.

Despite the site escaping heritage listing, Mr Burke will have to provide a final strategic assessment before the plan can proceed.

While heritage listing does not affect land ownership, native title or existing uses of land or sea, such as grazing or mining, it potentially adds another layer of red tape for firms seeking approval for multi-billion-dollar projects.

Speaking on 720 ABC radio this morning, WA Premier Colin Barnett said the omission of the gas hub site would not come as a surprise.

Mr Barnett said the site was identified by the WA government because it was not environmentally significant and did not hold great heritage values.

“The heritage assessment is related to protecting special places of cultural and historical significance and, in particular, biodiversity,” he said.

“James Price Point was selected from 43 different sites because it had a minimal impact and it certainly didn’t affect biodiversity.

“If that’s not included in the listing, I don’t think anyone should be surprised by that.”

Mr Barnett said while he supported protecting parts of the west Kimberley, including the Horizontal Waterfalls, a blanket listing would stymie development.

"If it's a broad listing of tens of thousands of square kilometres of the Kimberley, then anyone operating in that area has a new level of bureaucracy," he said.

"That will relate to Aboriginal communities, shopkeepers, petrol stations, to town sites." Former premier and lawyer Peter Dowding, who has represented Aboriginal groups and miners in the region, said a broad listing would be a "Pol Pot Year Zero" approach to heritage.

"The west Kimberley is an absolutely wonderful and unique area and there are many areas in it that must be preserved," he said.

"But here we have a classic example of Federal Government's complete lack of trust in the State bureaucracy and the complete arrogance from the Feds."

Chamber of Minerals and Energy chief executive Reg Howard-Smith warned that any adverse consequences caused by the heritage listing could give rise to legal action.