Union demands Barrow evacuation ahead of cyclone

UPDATE 1pm: The construction union wants 2000 workers evacuated from the $43 billion Gorgon LNG project on Barrow Island ahead of Cyclone Iggy.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, which attended an emergency meeting with Fair Work Australia this morning, fears workers' lives will be at risk when the tropical cyclone crosses the Pilbara coast.

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A short time ago, Fair Work Australia recommended Gordon project manager Kellogg Joint Venture and Chevron instruct their contractors to give staff the option to leave Barrow Island before the cyclone neared the coast, according to the union.

The cyclone, which has already halted operations at two offshore rigs, is rated at a category two but is forecast to develop into a category three or four intensity by the time it hits the coast.

At noon today the Bureau of Meteorology estimated the category two cyclone was 400km west northwest of Exmouth and 640km west of Karratha and moving south at 8km/h.

CFMEU secretary Mick Buchan said Fair Work Australia deputy president Brendan McCarthy today recommended staff requests to leave the island be met even if it meant adding extra flights.

“I suppose it’s the best result that we could get, he’s not in a position where he could put an order out be he has made a recommendation,” he said.

Mr Buchan said discussions would continue next week to find a long term solution.

At Barrow Island overnight, heavy rain from Cyclone Iggy caused roof and water damage to the recreation rooms.

A worker on Barrow Island, who took photographs of the damage this morning, said alot of non-essential workers remained on site.

Mr Buchan said it was not yet known how many dongas had attained the compulsory cyclone resistant standards at the partially-built camp. Although workers were not in the unfinished accommodation, the units and other building materials were likely to turn into dangerous debris during a cyclone, he said.

The union was also concerned about claims the Bibby Renaissance, a barge used as accommodation, was not cyclone rated.

Mr Buchan said the union had sought an urgent weekend hearing because there were concerns that it would become too dangerous to fly planes to the island on Monday.

Members were also angry that some workers, who appeared to be managers, had already been demobilised from the island.

"We have had a lot of calls from wives and mothers who know there's a cyclone up there, and they are thinking about Cyclone George, which killed two workers at a mine camp," he said.

The application was taken against a range of contractors including Thiess, CBI, Kentz, Marine and Civil and Monadelphous.

Gorgon operator Chevron, which is not named on the application, rejected union claims about the safety risk, claiming it had initiated "cyclone readiness plans" as a precautionary measure.

"This includes the evacuation of non-essential personnel, the tying down of equipment to secure sites and the suspension of construction activities," a spokesman said.

"Safety is a core value at Chevron and we will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Damage at Barrow Island overnight.