Police move on traditional owners protesting to save Broome’s water supply

The Broome Community No Gas coalition released the statement below on August 17.

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The Broome Community has vowed to stop Woodside's works as they are illegal, and will damage the Broome town water supply, after a convoy of Woodside vehicles entered the compound near James Price Point this morning.

Earlier today Goolarabooloo traditional owners were given move-on notices after occupying an access track to the compound for over 24 hours. Other Goolarabooloo member have since re-entered the site via helicopter to monitor Woodside's works and recommence their cultural practices on their Songcycle path.

Police have reopened Manari Rd, after two protestors locked onto a cement filled barrel were removed from the road earlier this morning.

Yesterday Goolarabooloo Senior Law Boss Joseph Roe was prevented from travelling along Manari Rd by police, as he attempted to go to the drill site.

Woodside are planning to extract 35 million litres of water from the Broome Aquifer over 7 days, for testing. The Broome community relies on this aquifer for their domestic and commercial water use.

Phillip Roe said: “Woodside's works are illegal, they have tried to compulsorily acquire this land because we did not give them permission, and we will keep challenging this destruction and Colin Barnett who wants to industrialise the Kimberley.”

From GLW issue 934