Kimberley protest against James Price Point gas update day 2

Update: all the latest and more photos on our Facebook page Latest: 10:14 pm Goolaraboolo family and supporters are currently sitting in front of the bulldozer. They will not move. They expect more police at dawn to move the dozer. Please – lots of people early to support please – Day 3 tomorrow is shaping up as another big one.. 5:32 pm 8th June 2011: Both Shane and Shayne have just been cut off the bulldozer and car respectively. For local hero Shane that represents one of the longer ‘lock ons’ in protest history. This is not the end of the story, no matter where you are – if you can get out there soon. The Country needs you. The protest is ongoing as of tonight: “Protesters and police camped on the site of the blockade last night and are expected to remain in the position about 15km from James Price Point into tonight. Broome Shire earthmoving equipment remains on site to clear the road but at this stage cannot make it down the road as two cars have broken down blocking a route to another derelict vehicle further down the track.” Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9602243 accessed 6:03PM WA 08/06/11

Joseph Roe, Goolarabooloo Lawman and Traditional Owner of James Price Point (Walmadan) standing firm on the Manari Rd to James Price Point. MURRANJI PHOTOGRAPHY 2011

If you are interested in traveling to the Kimberley to help out look at http://kimberleydirectaction.wordpress.com/

Want to help Save The Kimberley? http://www.givenow.com.au/savethekimberley

or look at what can I do to help and how to write a letter.

There was broad coverage of the unfolding events on evening TV news. Online articles: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/08/3238622.htm And the incongruously headlined: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/wa/9602243 Video Photos: This from last night: A senior North West Australian indigenous Law boss Joseph Roe was tonight camped alongside a distressed protester who has locked himself to a Woodside bulldozer. The protester, Shane Hughes vowed to stop it reaching virgin bushland set to be cleared for a yet to be approved gas hub site in The Kimberley. On dark, Shane lay beneath the bulldozer in the glare of spotlights erected by Woodside employees. But no attempt has yet been made to remove him. Joseph, his brother Philip, mother Teresa and other family and friends, said they were distraught. In the past couple of weeks, WA State road works have also carved through surrounding country and been dubbed a likely “road to nowhere” by increasing numbers of locals who are opposed to the project. Today, a small crowd “incensed” by what they describe as “aggressive and premature” site works, gathered as a bulldozer arrived to commence work on 25 hectares of tracks and drill sites near JPP (Walmadan) on the Kimberley Coast north of Broome. Neither Government and industry have yet signed off on several final approvals or financial investment decisions for the gas precinct. “This is an attempt to force a deal. It is not how Australians’ normally do things. They are trying to intimidate us. This is not a fair go. It is disrespectful,” said Mr Roe. Mr Roe is now consulting his lawyer about the validity of permissions paperwork handed to him on site by Woodside employees. “If the hub is not approved or the hub is deemed uneconomic by the industry partners’, then our Government has destroyed heritage and Country for no reason,” Mr Roe said. “Why are they doing this? Why is the Government letting them do this? “Everyone knows this is Country has been here for hundreds of years and more. “It is full of heritage sites and part of an ancient aboriginal songline preserved for everyone by my grandfather and named the Lurujarri Trail. “This damage to virgin bushland and heritage sites, some yet to be documented… It does not need to be done now. The Federal and State Governments’ could slow them down. They could ask Woodside and their business partners Shell, BHP and Chevron to delay the works until they get a final go ahead for the gas hub project. “And that’s not going to happen soon. So this should be stopped. It’s upsetting everyone .”  




  1. […] Day 2 […]

    Pingback by Welcome to Save The Kimberley. | Save The Kimberley on June 11, 2011 at 3:07 am

  2. Why cant wooodside have an off shore plant and leave the our beautiful land alone? i suppose Mr Barnett is copping a handout to allow Woodside go ahead on our Kimberley land (oh i forgot it is Mr Barnetts land not ours) i believe that this should be put to people of WA not left to one man to stuff our land up.
    But as we all know Barnett is only interested in Beautifing Perth City not the rest of our state, maybe if Woodside put the Plant on the banks of the Swan River something would be done.

    HEY Barnett and Woodside nick of and find an offshore site and leave the beautiful coast line of the Kimberley alone.

    By Rod Carter concerned tourist and resident of Western Australia, everone should fight such a stupid and selfish move by barnett and woodside

    Comment by Rod Carter on July 6, 2011 at 1:49 am

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