Cure for water woes?

The recent environmental approval of Chevron’s LNG Wheatstone Project off the coast of Onslow could pave the way for a solution to the town’s water problems.

Strict, conditional approval was granted by Western Australia’s environmental watchdog — the Environmental Protection Authority — last Wednesday.

According to the Shire of Ashburton, the announcement coincided with Environment and Water Minister Bill Marmion’s promise of a $9 million upgrade of Onslow’s Cane River borefield during an official meeting in Onslow.

The Cane River borefield upgrade will create an additional 160 water connections but is only estimated to sustain Onslow’s growing population for two years.

Shire president Greg Musgrave said the upgrade was a positive step but would not address Onslow’s future water needs.

“The EPA’s approval of Wheatstone brings the project closer to fruition, making water vitally important for the town of Onslow and investors in the project,” he said.

“We need to accommodate a projected population increase of 2700. As it stands, building contractors cannot obtain a licence without more water connections so this hugely profitable project could be stalled.”

EPA chairman Paul Vogel said the assessment was complex as it involved impacts and risks to thousands of hectares of marine and terrestrial habitat and significant greenhouse gas emissions.

“It includes one of Australia’s largest marine dredging campaigns, with dredging of 48 million cubic metres over three to four years with impacts and risks to tropical marine habitat including coral reefs,” Dr Vogel said.

Mr Vogel said greenhouse emissions equivalent to 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year were also proposed.

Key recommendation from the EPA’s report included strict dredging conditions to limit the impacts on marine communities and offsets to manage the potential impacts to the Cane River Conservation Park, offshore islands and local creek systems from the potential effects of a big construction workforce.

Mr Musgrave said he was deeply concerned about the future availability of water in Onslow and hoped the EPA’s decision would provide impetus for investment in a solution.

“The approval of Wheatstone is fantastic news for the Shire of Ashburton and the town of Onslow,” he said. “This decision should provide the government and investors across the globe with encouragement that this project is real and will happen.”

If the project proceeds Wheatstone gas would be brought ashore to the Ashburton North industrial precinct, where it would be converted into LNG for export to Asian markets.

Chevron Australia managing director Roy Krzywosinski said the EPA’s recommendation was an important step.

The EPA report is subject to a public appeal period ending on June 29.