Shire approves camp for early Browse work
Broome Shire councillors last week approved Woodside’s application for a temporary off-site workers camp near Broome.
The camp will accommodate workers employed to build the construction village at the James Price Point site, as well as early site clearing works and building a temporary marine off-loading facility at the Browse LNG Precinct.
Fourteen submissions were received during the 42 days for public comment.
Some of the many concerns highlighted by residents included: anticipated increase to traffic on the Broome Highway and Cape Leveque turnoff; social impacts of FIFO workers being housed so close to Broome; environmental impacts on the immediate site; lack of sewerage infrastructure at the site; plans for emergencies such as bushfires.
Councillors proceeded with the motion recommended by staff to approve construction of the camp, on a 45ha site 15km out of Broome. This site is currently flagged as the site of a future airport for Broome.
The carried motion was amended to include the condition that Woodside would have return the site to its original state should the gas development at James Price Point not go ahead.
Woodside’s plans for the camp included accommodation for 600 workers, a restaurant, tavern and beer garden, medical, security and emergency response building, recreation facilities such as a swimming pool and sports court.
The camp itself is planned to be set back 200m from the main Broome-Derby road.
Woodside said the camp was in its “detailed design phase” and construction was expected to start once a final investment decision is taken on the Browse LNG Development – expected in mid-2012. The company envisaged its facility would need to be operational for about two years from early 2012.
