The far north-west of Australia is a sparsely populated oasis where ancient
Aboriginal superstitions still prevail. The trouble is, there's gas there – and
developers who want to turn it into a new Emirate. Kathy Marks reports from
Broome:
The small, remote town of Broome in Australia's far north-west is known for
its pearl hunting history, unique ethnic mix and stunning sunsets over the
Indian Ocean. But with the country's largest gas refinery set to be built on its
doorstep, townsfolk fear a revenue-hungry state government is planning to turn
Broome into the next Dubai.
The proposed plant – which would process gas from a massive offshore field –
has horrified environmentalists, and sown bitter divisions among indigenous
locals. While traditional owners have agreed to give up their land in exchange
for an A$1.3bn (£814m) package offered by Australia's biggest oil and gas
company, Woodside Petroleum, the deal was only struck after they were threatened
with compulsory acquisition by the Western Australian government.
The Independent
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