Endangered turtles and ‘exceptional’ coral at risk from Woodside’s gas drilling in WA, watchdog says

A draft assessment from Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority warns that Woodside Energy’s proposed gasfield development near Scott Reef poses serious risks to fragile coral ecosystems and endangered marine species, including pygmy blue whales. The watchdog’s 2023 evaluation suggests the company’s spill prevention measures may fall short of acceptable safety standards, raising concerns about potential environmental damage. Critics argue the plans to safeguard turtles and whales in the region are insufficient, highlighting broader ecological threats tied to offshore drilling. The findings underscore growing tensions between industrial expansion and marine conservation in the state’s northwest coast.

Exclusive: EPA flags oil spill risk from proposed gasfield and threat to pygmy blue whalesSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereWoodside Energy’s plan to drill for gas off Western Australia’s north-west coast could significantly damage “exceptional” coral reefs and it may be impossible to reduce the risk of an oil spill to an acceptable level, according to advice from the state’s independent environmental watchdog.A draft letter from WA’s Environmental Protection Authority written in 2023, seen by the Guardian, sharply criticised Woodside’s proposal to develop the Browse gasfield, saying its plans to protect endangered turtles and blue whales near Scott Reef would be ineffective. Continue reading...