Aboriginal group seeks stake in Scarborough project as protesters charged for Burrup blockade

Traditional owners are seeking a deal to take a stake in Woodside’s $16.5 billion Scarborough gas project as Perth protesters descend on the Pilbara to rally against the development. Three Perth residents — Petrina Harley, Liz Burrow and Caleb, who would not provide his last name — parked a car and trailer across Burrup Road about 4am on Wednesday and chained themselves to concrete bollards in an attempt to stop access to Woodside and Yara sites, Dampier Port and businesses at King Bay. But police confirmed that they had not completely stopped access to sites, as more than 20 four-wheel-drives and minibuses thwarted the blockade by taking a track behind Hearson Cove. By 2pm a specialist police team had arrived on site to remove the protesters. Three people have now been charged by police over the blockade. The protesters came to Karratha to “stand with” traditional owners against Woodside’s decision on Tuesday to press ahead with the mega project, which will pipe gas from 375km off the North West coast to the company’s Burrup Hub. At the same time Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, the local traditional owner group, revealed it was seeking a stake in Scarborough and the Pluto LNG plant expansion. “Yes, we are proposing this,” MAC chief executive Peter Jeffries said. “This is an integral element for development on (Murujuga) country as it helps us find ways to work together, to keep us involved, and to help create long-term sustainability and stability for our members and future generations. “We want to be strategically vested in any project on country.” Woodside chief executive Meg O’Neill would not confirm the news, but said the company had “strong relationships” with MAC, Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation and North West Shelf partner Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation. MAC board of directors chairman Vincent Adams said due diligence would be done before decisions were made about projects on country. “The multimillion dollar Murujuga Rock Art Strategy will give us some of the key information we need to strategically proceed and engage with industry, knowing we are scientifically monitoring our ancient rock art at a world-class standard,” he said. Not all traditional owners are on board though; Ngarluma elder Colin Churnside on Wednesday staged his own protest at the police roadblock. “I don’t agree with Woodside and they should not be cutting up my country more,” he said. “There has to be more protection for the Burrup.” Woodside and the Australian Manufacturing Worker’s Union slammed those taking part in the blockade for risking the safety or workers trying to get home from night shifts. “This isn’t a fight you need to be having with our members, the workers just want to return home or get to work safely and do their job properly,” AMWU WA state secretary Steve McCarthy said. “AMWU supports the future of green manufacturing and jobs and many of our members look forward to working in green industries, but for now they need to do the jobs that are available and do them safely.” But a defiant Ms Burrow said protesters would “keep coming back” to disrupt Woodside’s activities. “They can’t just blow up up a World Heritage amazing collection of rock art for the sake of fossil fuels that shouldn’t even be getting brought out of the ground,” Ms Burrow said. “The only way we can make a difference is to sit on the road with our arms in a barrel of concrete. “We’re staunch as hell; we’ve got food, water and we don’t give up.” Conservationists have argued the project would dump 1.69 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and degrade nearby rock art subject to a World Heritage push. Their actions yesterday found little support from Karratha residents, who criticised the protesters for preventing staff from getting to work or home. Michael, a dangerous goods driver, had been stuck at the Dampier Highway turn off for nine hours 6am to 3pm Wednesday. “My products that I’ve got to pick up has got nothing to do with the protest,” he said. “I can’t turn around or pull up so I’m stuck here until the road opens and I can’t get to amenities.” Pilbara Ports Authority chief executive Roger Johnston said arrangements were made for key port staff to access the port and conduct crew changeovers while other staff worked remotely. WA Premier Mark McGowan said those opposed to the project should find other ways to get their point across. “A peaceful protest is fine but I think that has probably gone a bit far,” he said. A rally has been planned in the Karratha CBD on Saturday morning.