Woodside to contest council Bay Village conditions

The City of Karratha has expressed disappointment at a decision by oil and gas giant Woodside to contest several conditions recommended by the local government for its planned Bay Village workers’ camp in Karratha.

Woodside’s proposed 700-bed workforce accommodation village, planned for Bayview Road in Nickol, is due to be considered for development approval at a meeting of the Kimberley Pilbara Gascoyne Joint Development Assessment Panel tomorrow.

Last week the City issued a statement saying Woodside had since indicated it would oppose three out of a list of 14 conditions put forward by the local government to limit the camp’s community impact, including a 10 year development approval time limit for the site and plans to build a pedestrian way and cycle path linking the camp to a residential area.

City of Karratha chief executive Chris Adams said the local government was disappointed at Woodside’s decision to contest the conditions,

“(The City has) set out what we think is a very fair and reasonable list of conditions to enable a facility of this type to operate in our community,” he said.

“The 10 year development approval is in line with all recent camp developments to ensure that FIFO facilities only remain while demand exists.”

“We are hopeful that the (JDAP) will have our local community in mind when it makes its final decision on the Bay Village development (this) week.”

Woodside Australia operations unit senior vice president Niall Myles said the company had some outstanding concerns about the conditions which they hoped the JDAP would address.

“Woodside has worked closely with the City of Karratha on the Bay Village development application and there are just a few outstanding matters to be addressed during the JDAP hearing,” he said.

Mr Myles said the camp was necessary for the Woodside’s long-term growth plans in the region, which included extending the Karratha Gas Plant and building a second LNG train at Pluto.

He also said the company had closely engaged the community on plans for Bay Village through a social impact management assessment process and provided opportunities for public comment, during which they received four submissions.

Nationals WA deputy leader Jacqui Boydell said the party considered Woodside’s request for a 30 year lease at the site “completely unnecessary” and “out of kilter” with local planning guidelines.

“Given the City of Karratha has been very reluctant to accommodate the new 700-bed FIFO camp at Bay Village, I find it concerning that Woodside continues to push the envelope,” she said.

“I would encourage Woodside to act in the best interests of the Karratha community and honour all 14 conditions the council has laid out.”

The Kimberley Pilbara Gascoyne JDAP will meet in Perth tomorrow morning.