The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken the step of seeking public comment on amendments to Woodside’s Proposed Browse to North West Shelf Development.
The State Waters component of the proposal to extract hydrocarbons from the Torosa reservoir, 425km north of Broome, has been under assessment by the independent Authority since 2019.
During that time there have been two amendments requested by the proponent, as well as an eight-week public review which attracted nearly 20,000 submissions.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh said Woodside Energy Ltd had recently requested a further amendment under section 43A of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
“So much time has passed since the last public consultation and the proposal has changed since the original referral,” Mr Walsh said. “We think a four-week public review of this latest proposed amendment is appropriate for such a complex assessment of multiple environmental factors across a very sensitive project area.
“The volume of new technical information accompanying this proposed amendment is also considerable.
“Public consultation on a proposed amendment is not usual process for the EPA, but we believe that in this case the circumstances warrant it.”
The proposed amendment includes a reduction in development envelope size to no longer overlap the Scott Reef shallow water benthic habitats or Sandy Islet, modifications to remove or relocate drilling units to avoid green turtle habitats, and the adoption of technology to minimise the risk of a loss-of-well control event.
Mr Walsh said the EPA would consider feedback relevant to the amendments before deciding if the proposal could be amended during the assessment process.
“If these changes are accepted then the EPA will continue with its assessment of the amended proposal,” he said.
Submissions can be made via the EPA’s consultation hub until 10 June 2025.
Woodside’s response to any submissions will be published on the EPA website before the EPA completes its report.
The EPA’s report and recommendations to the Minister for Environment are expected to be finalised by the end of the year. After a three-week public appeal period the Minister will make the final decision on the proposal.
EPA Media Contact: jenni.storey@dwer.wa.gov.au; 0434 734 997
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