Narelle Towie, PerthNow 1 Sep 09;
AN aerial survey has revealed hundreds of humpback whales off the Kimberley coast amassing near the site proposed for a massive industrial gas hub.
A staggering 162 humpback whales in 102 separate pods were recorded off the Kimberley coast over the weekend in an aerial survey conducted by The Wilderness Society .
The highest numbers of whales were spotted near James Price Point - a site controversially proposed for Woodside's massive LNG gas processing facility.
Woodside is spearheading the Kimberley hub proposal, which has been championed by WA Premier Colin Barnett, who successfully pushed through an agreement with indigenous landowners after threatening to requisition the proposed site at James Price Point, north of Broome.
Mr Barnett originally favoured North Head, a site further north on the Dampier peninsula, as the preferred site for LNG processing, however this site was abandoned to avoid the high whale populations in the area.
The Kimberley hub is proposed to process gas from the Woodside-operated Browse Basin gas fields joint venture, which also includes BHP Billiton Ltd, BP, Chevron and Shell.
Local whale expert Mr Richard Costin said the results show how many whales rely on the area to feed and give birth.
“Based on our recent research, there is no doubt that the area around James Price Point is at least as significant for humpback whales as other sites that have been considered unsuitable for industrial development due to whale activity,” Mr Costin said.
“This whole region is important for these amazing creatures which would be severely impacted if the proposed LNG plant goes ahead on the Kimberley coast.”
Conservation Council of WA's Director Piers Verstegen said despite these amazing and unique creatures being internationally significant less than 1 per cent of the Kimberley’s waters are protected in marine sanctuaries.
The conservation groups are calling on the State and Commonwealth Governments to immediately place a moratorium on oil and gas development on the Kimberley coast and establish large marine sanctuary zones to protect the globally significant marine biodiversity in this region.
They are also asking Prime Minister Kevin Rudd conduct a similar survey in the James Price Point area while he is in WA to witness the threat to humpback whales posed by industry plans.
