Barnett dismisses Onslow gripes

Colin Barnett has told the people of Onslow to “get over it” amid complaints about his decision to allow oil and gas giant Chevron to back out of a commitment to build workers' accommodation in the Pilbara town.

After copping criticism from the local shire and Nationals Pilbara MP Brendon Grylls, the Premier said Onslow had benefitted significantly from the $30 billion Wheatstone gas project and should stop complaining.

Last year it emerged Chevron would not build a workers camp in the North West town but instead house them on site at the gas plant it was building 25km south.

On Wednesday Mr Grylls said it beggared belief a company as big as Chevron could promise to do something for a local community only to back away from it later.

The former Nationals leader also took a swipe at the Premier, saying he should never have allowed the reversal to happen.

But Mr Barnett hit back, telling Parliament that even if the workers had been housed in Onslow they would not have spent any money in the town because they would have been too busy working.

He also said Onslow should be grateful for what it had received – a set of benefits he described as the best of their kind anywhere in WA – while attacking the Shire of Ashburton’s handling of the development.

Mr Barnett again sought to justify his decision on safety grounds, saying the drive between the plant construction site and Onslow would have put lives at risk.

“The future of Onslow will be growing small business, medium-size businesses, services, catering, whatever, around that project,” Mr Barnett said.

“That’s their opportunity and it is a huge opportunity.

“Onslow will grow and what I say to Onslow (is) ‘get over it’.

“You have had the best infrastructure put into any town for a new project like this and the benefits, particularly the State contribution to the new hospital will be fantastic.

“You now have a power and water supply that allows town growth, you have got fantastic community facilities all put into your community.

“So forget the issue of where the fly-in, fly-out camp is and work with me as the Minister for State Development to make sure we get the real benefits into the community.”