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July 5th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The West Australian Environmental Defender’s Office (EDO) has lost its bid on behalf of a traditional owner to challenge preliminary works at Woodside Petroleum’s proposed $30 billion Kimberley gas hub site.
The EDO launched its original challenge on May 28 on behalf of Goolarabooloo man Richard Hunter, a traditional owner of the James Price Point site, 60km north of Broome, where Woodside wants to build one of the world’s biggest LNG processing plants.
It sought to overturn a decision by the Kimberley Joint Development Assessment Panel to grant approvals to Woodside in February without the Shire of Broome’s consent.
Woodside agreed to halt the affected works until the challenge had been heard.
A month later, however, WA Planning Minister John Day amended local planning rules, specifically allowing Woodside to conduct preliminary works at the culturally and environmentally sensitive site without shire approval.
The EDO launched a second challenge to that decision on behalf of Mr Hunter last week.
But on Thursday, WA Supreme Court Chief Justice Wayne Martin declined to hear the case against Mr Day, saying there was not enough evidence to suggest he had used his powers improperly.
Justice Martin then presided over the Court of Appeal to dismiss the original challenge against Woodside’s permits, arguing that even if they were found to be invalid, the planning minister’s new guidelines meant the petroleum giant could proceed without them.
He awarded costs against Mr Hunter to Woodside and the WA government of $3500 each.
Woodside welcomed the decisions, saying it would proceed with work on the site.
“We will continue with our current program of works in accordance with the consents and approvals that have been obtained,” it said in a statement.
EDO principal solicitor Josie Walker issued a statement outlining the decision, but did not comment.
The case has been closely watched by Broome residents and opponents of the project, who argue the gas hub will destroy James Price Point’s cultural and environmental integrity, and transform the laid-back tourist town into an overly expensive resources centre.
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