WESTERN Australian environment minister Bill Marmion has rejected an appeal against allowing Norwest Energy to undertake a small-scale frac job in the North Perth Basin, alarming environmentalists but opening the way for an onshore gas industry in the state.
The judgement from Marmion affirms the Environmental Protection Agency's original assessment to not assess the fraccing proposal due to the small scale of the frac job to be undertaken at Arrowsmith-2.
However, both environmental and industry groups have cast the decision as a de facto decision on the future of fraccing in the state.
Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association chief operating officer for the Western Region, Stedman Ellis, said: "The minister's decision is based on sound science and it will provide effective environmental protection while reducing unnecessary delays.
"The gas industry has a 40-year history of successful production in Western Australia - including the use of hydraulic fracturing," he said.
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