Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Rock Art Group Sues to Overturn WA Approval of Woodside’s North West Shelf Extension

The group says the environmental assessment ignored the project’s climate effects on Murujuga’s 60,000-year-old rock art.

Image

Overview

  • Friends of Australian Rock Art launched a Supreme Court challenge on June 16 against the WA government’s December decision to extend the North West Shelf project’s life.
  • The legal action contends the government’s environmental approval failed to assess the emissions impact of extending operations from 2030 to 2070 on Murujuga’s Aboriginal rock art and broader climate.
  • Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt provisionally endorsed the extension in May, subject to strict cultural heritage and air quality conditions to safeguard the Burrup Peninsula.
  • Woodside Energy has expressed confidence in the robustness of the state’s approval process while reviewing the mandated federal safeguards.
  • Indigenous advocate Raelene Cooper is pursuing a separate Federal Court bid in mid-July to compel Commonwealth consideration of rock art heritage protections.