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March 30th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Researchers have found a large turtle nesting area at a proposed $30 billion gas hub site in the Kimberley, contradicting the results of a West Australian government study.
The state government has been locked in battle with conservationists, local Aborigines and other Kimberley residents over plans to compulsorily acquire the James Price Point site, about 60km north of Broome.
Lead developer Woodside has argued the development will inject much-needed funds into the local economy, while those opposed claim the site is culturally and environmentally significant, and there are better alternatives, such as piping gas to existing plants in the Pilbara.
A recent environmental impact study commissioned by the Department of State Development (DSD) found just one “old” turtle nest at the site and three “false crawls” – where female turtles drag themselves up the beach looking for a suitable place to lay their eggs.
However, an independent study led by Melbourne University marine biologist Malcolm Lindsay found 14 nesting sites and 38 false crawls along a 6km stretch of coast that would be affected by the proposed gas hub.
The peer-reviewed study was conducted from September 2011 to February 2012.
“It just shows the inadequacies of the research that’s been done beforehand,” Mr Lindsay told AAP on Friday.
“They didn’t even look in the areas (that we studied) – and that’s our biggest worry.”
Mr Lindsay said that while the nesting sites were not “concentrated” they were still important.
“Any nesting population is considered significant by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) … due to the threatened nature of the species,” he said.
“This nesting site is at quite a large risk of impact.”
Activist group Gas Free Kimberley said all three species found in the study were listed as threatened.
“The government study surveyed only 12 per cent of the coastline most threatened by the precinct, overlooking the significant 6km strip,” it said in a statement.
The group said the results of the independent survey had been submitted to the WA EPA, which is currently assessing the site.
A DSD spokesperson said: “The WA government’s strategic assessment report on environmental impacts of the proposed Browse LNG precinct is currently being considered by the EPA, which is able to consider a wide range of evidence in making its recommendations.”
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