Take Action – Kimberly Coast Oil Spill

Surfrider Foundation Australia calls for all members to take action regarding the massive contamination from the continuous oil spill off the NW coast of Australia.

The spill is now in its ninth week. PTTEP, the company responsible for the oil leak is making its fourth attempt to plug the leak today. All attempts have failed thus far.

The public may be being seriously misled regarding the impacts of the oils spill, with recent statements from the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism reporting that estimates suggest the flow could be as high as 2,000 barrels. The company responsible for the leak, PTTEP has estimated the leak has been flowing at a rate of 300 – 400 barrels per day, which is the number the Federal government agrees with. There seems to be no clear idea about how much oil is actually being spilt into the ocean.

The Kimberley coast is one of the world’s most intact large tropical marine ecosystems with a coral reef of global significance. The seas in the area are known as a marine ‘super highway’ because of the amount of dolphins, whales, turtles, sea birds and fish found there. A recent survey from the WWF recorded dozens of dolphins and sea birds all within the oil slick area, as well as sea snakes and the threatened hawksbill and flat-backed turtle. Due to the rig being in a very remote location, and the concern is that the mentality is Out of Sight, Out of Mind. The oil spill is a massive contamination risk and can affect wildlife for generations.

The oil spill in the Kimberley is a serious global concern, however, it would seem that the impact and severity of the spill is being played down to an increasingly frustrated public.

More outrageous, is that on Friday 23 October, PTTEP gained control of two more off shore oil fields and five exploration licenses. The move was supported by the Foreign Investment Review Board, and Federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson.

We urge you to take action. Please write to the following people to express your concerns regarding the lack of information being made available to the public, and that the company responsible for the spill has been granted an additional five oil and gas exploration licenses.

Call on the politicians to:
-    Ensure the West Atlas Oil spill is capped at the earliest possible time, and all necessary resources are made available to clean up the slick and treat effected wildlife
-    Protect the Kimberley. Only 1% of the West Australian coastal environment is protected. 1% is not good enough.  Substantial marine parks in the North West of Australia need to be established to protect the region from uncontrolled industrialisation.
-    Put the environment first. Place a moratorium on the opening of any further oil and gas exploration until the current marine bioregional planning process is complete.

The Hon Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Tel: (07) 3899 4031

Peter Garrett
T: 02 6277 7640
Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
PO Box 6022
Parliament House

Colin Barnett
Premier of Western Australia
24th Floor, Governor Stirling Tower, 197 St Georges Terrace, PERTH WA 6000
Telephone: 9222 9888
Fax: 9322 1213
e-Mail: wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au

Martin Ferguson
Minister for Resources
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7930
Fax: (02) 6273 0434
Email: Martin.Ferguson.MP@aph.gov.au

Related Information
Oil Spill