What is the Woodside North West Shelf gas project?

The Woodside North West Shelf gas project is one of the world's biggest liquified natural gas projects, located in northern Western Australia.

Why are environmental groups challenging the project's expansion?

The groups are challenging the federal government's approval of the project's extension from 2030 to 2070, citing concerns over the project's massive greenhouse gas emissions and potential damage to the Murujuga rock art, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

What is the Murujuga rock art?

The Murujuga rock art is a cultural landscape in northern Western Australia that contains more than 1 million pieces of ancient rock art, known as petroglyphs, which are the oldest and most extensive in the world.

Home / Environment / Activists Challenge Approval of Massive Gas Project Expansion

Activists Challenge Approval of Massive Gas Project Expansion

13 Oct

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Summary

Two groups file legal challenges to federal approval of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project extension
Project's total emissions estimated to be over 13 times Australia's annual emissions
Concerns over damage to Murujuga's world heritage-listed Indigenous rock art

Activists Challenge Approval of Massive Gas Project Expansion

In a move to protect the environment and cultural heritage, two prominent groups have filed separate legal challenges to the federal government's recent approval of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project extension. The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Friends of Australian Rock Art have commenced federal court proceedings, seeking to overturn the minister's decision.

The groups argue that the minister, Murray Watt, failed to adequately consider the project's significant environmental and cultural impacts. ACF estimates the project's total emissions would be more than 13 times Australia's annual emissions, a staggering figure that has shocked many Australians. Additionally, the groups assert that the minister did not properly take into account the potential damage to the Murujuga rock art, a UNESCO World Heritage site containing the oldest and most extensive rock art in the world.