Woodside Energy has received critical environmental approvals from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), greenlighting the immediate seismic testing for its $16.5 billion Scarborough Gas Project in Western Australia.
Cultural heritage concerns
This development follows the Federal Court's dismissal of NOPSEMA's earlier approval due to a challenge by a traditional owner over cultural heritage concerns.
The controversy around the Scarborough project coincides with a Federal Court case commencing in Darwin against Santos' $5.8 billion Barossa venture in the Timor Sea, also facing legal challenges from traditional owners.
These owners, supported by environmental groups, argue that insufficient consultation has been conducted, and the projects threaten Indigenous songlines and ancestral connections.
These ongoing legal disputes have raised concerns about potential delays for both projects, critical for the growth of Woodside and Santos, aimed at supplying gas to Asian markets.
The disputes have also sparked calls for reform in Australia’s offshore approvals process, particularly after a pivotal court decision last year that overturned approvals for the Barossa project.
Community backlash
According to Woodside, NOPSEMA has approved six environment plans for the company, including new projects and decommissioning. However, three approvals for Scarborough, including the installation of subsea equipment, are pending.
Traditional custodians who challenged the Scarborough approval have strongly criticised NOPSEMA's latest decision, while Greenpeace forewarns of increasing community backlash against Woodside’s Burrup Hub project.
An energy analyst noted the significance of NOPSEMA’s compliance with new consultation standards, although legal challenges remain a possibility.
Meanwhile, the Barossa trial, involving Tiwi Island traditional owner Simon Munkara, focuses on Santos' environmental plan for a pipeline linked to Darwin, with a decision expected by mid-January.