Consent agreement reached for Kimberley LNG precinct

An historic agreement has been reached between the State Government, Woodside Energy Ltd and the Goolarabooloo Jabir Jabirr (GJJ) native title claim group to allow a natural gas project to go ahead in the Kimberley.

The Traditional Owners of the land at James Price Point, located 60km north of Broome, have agreed to relinquish their native title interests in the 3,500ha of land and water required for the precinct, in return for substantial benefits for indigenous people and continuing engagement in environmental and cultural heritage management at the precinct. The precinct represents 1.5 per cent of the total GJJ native title claim area (251,500ha of land and water).

Premier Colin Barnett said the agreement was an important milestone in a four-year process to select and secure the most appropriate site in the Kimberley for the LNG Precinct. “The agreement will give indigenous people in the Kimberley a higher level of economic independence and is a real and practical milestone in the reconciliation process.”

The State Government is conscious of the region’s unique characteristics and has incorporated a world-class environmental management regime in the agreement. James Price Point is a remote site with no nearby settlement. The land will be under State Government control with sites leased to Woodside and any future proponents.

When the precinct is no longer required the land will be remediated and returned to traditional owners as freehold. When finalised, the agreement, which includes significant commitments from both the State Government, and from Woodside Energy Ltd as a foundation proponent at the precinct, will be the most significant native title agreement in Australia’s history. The agreement establishes a unique and comprehensive regime of benefits both for Traditional Owners of the precinct site, and also to indigenous communities across the Dampier Peninsula and beyond. “

The State Government will work with the native title group to start bringing forward some of the social programs that will make a difference to the lives of the indigenous people of the Kimberley and wider region,” the Premier said.

It is anticipated that the agreements will be executed by the end of June 2011. Woodside is expected to make a Final Investment Decision on the project within 12 months, and it is likely to have a life of more than 50 years.