ENVIRONMENT Minister Peter Garrett has approved the Barrow Island Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) processing plant project, off the Pilbara coast, Western Australia.
The $50 billion Gorgon gas project has recently come under scrutiny from environmental groups after PTTEP's drill rig, West Atlas leaked oil into the Timor Sea on 21 August 2009.
But Garrett claims he has implemented 28 extra conditions designed to protect the environment and endangered species.
However, Greens senator Rachel Siewert says that no environmental conditions can protect the environment of this island and it is nonsense for Minister Garrett to hide behind such conditions.
The proposed development will create as many as 10,000 jobs at its peak and underpin a major expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) production across Australia.
Joint venture partners Chevron, Shell and ExxonMobil have signed off a $50 billion contract to supply gas to state-owned national petroleum group, PetroChina, during the next 20 years.
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