The Kimberley• Almost twice the size of Victoria, larger than Italy or Germany• One of 15 Australian national diversity Hotspots - unique vegetation, home to many rare and vulnerable animal species – marine and terrestrial • A place of staggering beauty and ancient power – not yet irreversibly compromised.• A large-scale ecological reference site that can provide information for regenerating ecosystems (about which little is currently known). • Such sites are crucial in the context of climate change.• One of the last great Indigenous homelands

The Threat

• Woodside Petroleum is seeking approval for an industrial plant and port at James Price Point to process gas from a field 350 km off shore.

• The effects will be destructive to pristine coastline and woodlands and will increase WA emissions by 20% of current totals.

• The development will open the way for industrialisation of the western Kimberley by other companies, already poised for mining bauxite, coal, uranium, cooper and more.

• Other feasible options exist – gas can be piped to processing plant already established in the Pilbara.

• WA govt has already approved this development

A Strategy

• Only point of leverage is at Federal level – Federal Environment Minister will make a decision at end of August re listing for National Heritage status.

• This could also be a prelude to World Heritage listing

• A national campaign (comparable to the Franklin River) is needed to express commitment of Australians to preserving the Kimberley.

• This idea has now been posted on the Getup website. GetUp would mount such a campaign when sufficient number of people vote for it.

What Can I do?

• To vote – first you need to become a member of GetUp (if you are not already) - go to www.getup.org.au/

• Then go to - Suggestions – Hot ideas – to National Heritage Listing for the Western Kimberley

• Sign in and vote (you can click on 1, 2 or 3 votes for one suggestion – click 3!!)

• Call on friends and networks to vote on GetUp website

• Another useful site is savethekimberly.com