G'day All,
Just saw the 60 Minutes Report on how the Proposed Gas Processing Facility, north of Quandong Point on the Dampier Peninsular is going to destroy the Kimberley. They showed endless pics of Purnululu (Bungle Bungles), Horizontal Waterfalls, and the Kimberley Coastline, saying that the Gas Facility was going to lead to the destruction of the whole Kimberley.They also showed repeatedly, scenes of open cut mining at Tom Price, trying to implicate that that is going to take place on the Kimberley Coast and in the Bungle Bungles. Bull bleep !
Last year we sat around our campfire at Gunbunun, One Arm Point, listening to Frank and Maureen Davey, the aboriginal leaders of the One Arm Point Community. Frank was that community's representative on the joint indiginous delegation to the WA Government, on the selection of a suitable site for the Gas Project.
They had managed to convince the WA Government that, instead of several oil/gas companies establishing their own Gas Processing Facilities at several sites along the Kimberley Coast, that there would only be one site suitable for all companies to use. They went through a process which involved all of the Communities of the Kimberley, and, they chose a single site just north of Quandong Point.
It has only been since the announcement of the outcome of the traditional owners decision that the greenies and do-gooders have, with the assistance of 60 Minutes, attempted to create hype.
The 60 Minutes Program did not include an interview with any representative of the traditional land owners who were involved in the two year process of negotiation between them, the WA Government, and the Oil Companies..
In our experience with the Davey's, we came away with the feeling that they had achieved the best outcome for the communities and the land that they live in. They emphasized to us that they did not want cash handouts, but an appreciation of the need for community facilities and infrastructure, just like the rest of us have.
If only politicians and 60 Minutes Reporters could experience
Bushtracker lifestyle before polling booths and TV shows, this country would be a better place.
Rob and Liz
