Trouble is well and truly brewing in the iconic grey nomad hotspot of Broome in Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
As we have reported extensively in these pages, the plan by Woodside Petroleum to build a $30 billion land-based facility to process gas from the giant Browse field in the pristine beachside camping spot of James Price Point have sparked intense debate.
While the plans have yet to receive final approval from Canberra, site testing started recently in the area just north of Broome and this has exposed deep community divisions. Woodside workers have even been harassed and feel intimidated enough not to wear their uniforms if they go to certain pubs. While environmentalists are cranking up the pressure, many locals in the town of 16,000 – with a population that swells to 50,000 at this time of the year – are also starting to fear for their laid-back lifestyle.
Save the Kimberley co-chairman Mark Jones, told the West Australian newspaper that what is happening at James Price Point may be a stalking horse for the wider industrialisation of the Kimberley.
“The Premier, Colin Barnett has publicly stated that the Pilbara has underpinned the economy of WA for the last 50 years, and the Kimberley will underpin it for the next 50,” he told the paper
Mr Jones believes the State Government wants a new port in the Kimberley. It cannot be built at Derby because of the huge tides, he argues, which makes an ever-expanding footprint at James Price Point likely.
The massive gas facility will be built over five years and a 6000-bed camp will house its construction workforce, The fact that all of this will happen just half an hour north of Broome means there are most certainly big changes afoot for the town.
But the General Manager of Broome’s Roebuck Bay Hotel, Mike Windle, says the development offers a brighter future for the area.
“”The tourism industry is being hit by the high dollar which means fewer people coming here from overseas and local people are going to Bali,” he said. “The pearling industry is in critical condition. The gas hub is the only thing which will keep the town kicking on and making sure people here have good jobs for the future.”
