Media statement: North West Shelf Project Extension final decision

Following the consideration of rigorous scientific advice, today I have given final approval for the North West Shelf Project Extension, subject to strict conditions.

This is the last procedural step in a lengthy process, following the announcement of my proposed approval in May.

The decision-making scope for this proposal was narrow, relating to the risk of significant impacts on matters protected under federal environmental law­—in this case, the World Heritage listed Murujuga rock art, which forms part of Western Australia’s Dampier Archipelago.

In making this decision, I have imposed 48 strict conditions that will avoid and mitigate significant impacts to the Murujuga rock art.

The additional conditions I have imposed add to those already set by the Western Australian Government.

This will ensure that this project will be operated in a way that does not cause unacceptable impacts to the Murujuga rock art, in compliance with federal environmental law, including restricting air emissions which otherwise could have accelerated damage.

Specifically, I have imposed conditions that will require a reduction in certain gas emissions below their current levels, in some cases by 60 percent by 2030 with ongoing reductions beyond that.

The conditions will also allow for any new science achieved through the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program (MRAMP) to be accounted for by requiring the approval holder to comply with any air quality objectives and standards that are derived by the Program.

Under the conditions I have proposed, the proponent will be required to:

• Comply with strict limits on emissions of concern and in some cases continue reducing those emissions levels over the life of the plant.
• Comply with the conditions of the approval by the WA Government to prepare a new Air Quality Management Plan. This requires the proponent to comply with any new air quality objectives or standards that are derived from the Murujuga Rock Art Monitoring Program (MRAMP), ensuring they adhere to the most current science on the impacts to rock art.
• Put in place a robust continuous emissions monitoring system to demonstrate compliance with the strict limits on emissions levels.
• Regularly review and implement industry and Australian best practice emissions reductions technology.
• Manage direct, physical impacts to the rock through the implementation of a Cultural Heritage Management Plan.
• Demonstrate compliance with the conditions requiring emissions monitoring by publishing an annual compliance report including emissions data collected by the monitoring system.

The project will be required to reduce its emissions every year and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 under the Albanese Government’s strengthened Safeguard Mechanism.

The decision and conditions will be published in full on the EPBC Act Public Portal.