Conventional homeowners from the Northern Territory’s Tiwi Islands have launched a authorized problem to the $4.7bn Barossa offshore gasoline undertaking, saying they weren't consulted about plans to drill the gasoline subject.
The undertaking is a three way partnership between Santos and SK E&S and can contain drilling for gasoline within the Timor Sea and transporting it through a 260km pipeline to the present Darwin LNG facility.
The Nationwide Offshore Petroleum Security and Environmental Administration Authority (Nopsema) gave Santos approval in March to drill as much as eight wells off the northern seashores of the Tiwi Islands.
Munupi senior lawman Dennis Tipakalippa is difficult that call within the federal court docket saying he and his group had been by no means consulted concerning the drilling.
“Santos say they did session for this drilling undertaking, however nobody spoke to me as a standard proprietor and senior lawman for the Munupi clan,” he mentioned.
“My clan, the Munupi, personal these northern seashores. It’s our land that’s closest to the drilling web site. We're those who're going to be affected.”
In its environmental plan for the gasoline subject, Santos mentioned it had contacted Tiwi land council by e-mail concerning the undertaking and no responses elevating points or issues had been obtained thus far. In its environmental plan for the pipeline, the corporate mentioned there had been ongoing contact with the Tiwi land council, together with through the formal session interval in 2019.
The federal court docket motion is the second authorized problem to the undertaking.
An earlier problem launched by Tiwi Islander and Larrakia conventional homeowners which sought to forestall South Korea’s export credit score businesses from financing the event failed final month.
Tipakalippa mentioned the drilling would threaten Tiwi Islanders’ meals sources, tradition and lifestyle.
He mentioned they had been significantly involved about injury to sea nation if a spill occurred.
“We spend a number of outing within the water – searching, fishing. We solely ever take what we will eat in a day, no extra,” he mentioned.
“We respect our homelands, our sea nation and it takes care of us. Santos ought to have revered us and consulted within the correct approach.”
The Environmental Defenders’ Workplace, which is representing Tipakalippa, mentioned Santos had a authorized obligation to seek the advice of with individuals who is likely to be affected by the drilling.
“Our consumer is arguing that session didn't happen, and so the approval is invalid,” particular counsel Alina Leikin mentioned.
She mentioned the outcomes of the case may very well be important as a result of it was the primary authorized motion introduced by a First Nations particular person difficult an offshore undertaking approval due to alleged lack of session.
“This case may set up what constitutes ample session with First Nations individuals in relation to offshore gasoline developments,” she mentioned.
“It may have important implications for a way mining corporations view their session obligations with First Nations individuals.”
A Santos spokesperson mentioned the corporate didn't touch upon issues earlier than the court docket.
A spokesperson for Nopsema mentioned the authority had revealed an in depth assertion of causes for its choice to approve the undertaking.
It mentioned the authority was conscious of the authorized motion and couldn't touch upon issues that had been the topic of court docket proceedings.
“Nopsema is conscious of various media articles relating to allegations that Santos did not seek the advice of in reference to the Barossa Mission growth drilling and completions surroundings plan,” the spokesperson mentioned.
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