Goolarabooloo man Richard Hunter was ordered to pay costs. Photo: Damian Kelly
WOODSIDE Petroleum can start drilling at James Price Point on track for a final investment decision next year after the Supreme Court of Western Australia yesterday threw out an application by a Goolarabooloo man questioning the validity of survey work approvals for the $35 billion Browse gas hub plan.
Woodside agreed not to touch sections of the dunes and coast at the Kimberley site and to halt drilling plans after Richard Hunter launched proceedings claiming that approvals for $6.2 million worth of works had been granted in February without a report from the Broome Shire, rendering them invalid.
But on June 25, days before the case was due to be heard by the WA Court of Appeal, WA Planning Minister John Day amended the planning regulations in the area, permitting Woodside to continue drilling, even if their approvals were found to be invalid. Complicating the matter, the WA government is the project's proponent.
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