Environs Kimberley is advertising for a Project Officer to work on the West Kimberley Nature Project.

“The Broome-based position entails working cooperatively with Indigenous Ranger Groups, Traditional Owners, environment groups and others on the Dampier Peninsula and 80 Mile Beach,” according to the advertisement.

Click here to read the advertisement or go to the Jobs Page.

Mudnunn Road - photo Rohanna Angus

Rohanna Angus sent in this picture of a flooded creek crossing, taken on the weekend.

She says her family’s vehicles have been stranded.

“It’s at Mudnunn Road near Djarindjin airstrip,” she said.

“We have to walk to Djarindjin to get fuel and food – it’s about a 15 kilometre walk just to live in our block.”

A cane toad

ABC TV is featuring a documentary about cane toads tonight.

Canetoads The Conquest is on ABC 1 at 8.30pm.

You can see the website for the show if you click here.

Photo - Water Corporation

The Water Corporation will lower the water level in Lake Kununurra next week and the week after.

Boat owners are asked to remove their craft to avoid possible damage while maintenance work is in progress.

You can read a statement here:

Media Statement

30 January 2011

Lake Kununurra to be lowered significantly for dam works

The Water Corporation will lower the level of Lake Kununurra significantly during 5 – 19 February 2012, to clear and repair the Kununurra Diversion Dam levee bank and inspect the Diversion Dam wall.

Kerrie Chapman, Water Corporation North West Regional Manager said during this time the level of Lake Kununurra would be lowered significantly to provide an opportunity to complete the works.

“If you have pumping or other ancillary equipment in the vicinity of the Ord River, then please consider the risks involved and what preventative measures may need to be taken,” Mrs Chapman said.

“Boats and barges on Lake Kununurra should be removed from the water until the Lake returns to its normal level to avoid any risk of damage.

“The only exception applies to boats in Lilly Creek Lagoon. These can remain in the lagoon provided they are secured, as once the water recedes they will sit on the river bed.”

If you live on the river, or may be affected and would like to be notified prior to any major change in Lake Kununurra water levels, please contact the Water Corporation on (08) 9168 0735 to confirm your contact details are correct for the faxstream and email notification process.

The Water Corporation appreciates the community’s cooperation during these essential dam works.

Martin Pritchard

Environs Kimberley director  said reports of a Woodside selldown are “another nail in the coffin for James Price Point”.

He was commenting on several reports of a possible sale of much of the company’s stake in the Browse Basin gas reserves.

You can read his statement here:

MEDIA RELEASE – ENVIRONS KIMBERLEY

Another nail in the coffin for James Price Point

Woodside’s statement to the ASX today that it is looking at selling down its equity in the Browse LNG proposal is another nail in the coffin for the gas refineries proposed at James Price Point on the Kimberley coast.

Environs Kimberley Executive Director Martin Pritchard said:

“This is one of a number signs that Woodside’s appetite for industrial gas refineries on the Kimberley coast has waned significantly since the departure of ex-CEO Don Voelte.”

“Virtually every single analyst who has commented on the project for the past three years has said that there are significant problems with the proposal including technical difficulties, very high CO2 content with no abatement plans, environmental and heritage hurdles to jump, joint venture partner reluctance as well as significant local community opposition in Broome which is spreading through the country.” Mr Pritchard said.

“What we need now is certainty for our community, we’ve had this big black cloud hanging over us for four years and it’s a huge psychological pressure that has affected the Broome community very negatively. We need Woodside to stay away from James Price Point or we’re going to see the same disturbing scenes of people trying to protect their community getting arrested by the riot squads that were flown in last year.”

“We’ll be holding Federal Minister for Resources Martin Ferguson responsible for any further trauma here until he relaxes the conditions on the retention leases. These conditions were put in place when Don Voelte was aggressively pushing the proposal and were designed to corral the Joint Venture partners like Chevron and BHP-Billiton to a Kimberley site.”

“This tactic has clearly failed with WikiLeaks cables from the US Consulate in Perth showing huge opposition from Chevron and BHP- Billiton. Martin Ferguson needs to act quickly and he now has the perfect opportunity with Woodside requesting a year’s delay to a final investment decision and clearly showing the market that Browse is not a winner on the Kimberley coast.”

Courtesy DEC

Malcolm Douglas’ crocodile park at Cable Beach is now closed.

The crocodiles are being moved to the wilderness park Mr Douglas started at Twelve Mile.

The Cable Beach property is being developed as a cafe and artists’ studios.

The West Australian [read this story]

A cane toad

Kimberley Echo gives advice about how to treat your dog if it has just taken cane toad poison.

Kimberley Echo [read this story]

To see a larger map click on this image

Tropical Cyclone Iggy is now a force-2 system heading towards North West Cape.

There are no cyclone warnings current for the Kimberley.

You can read a cyclone advice from the Bureau of Meteorology here:

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

TROPICAL CYCLONE ADVICE NUMBER 11

Issued at 9:07 am WST on Saturday 28 January 2012

A Cyclone WARNING is now current for coastal areas from Mardie to Coral Bay,

including Exmouth and Onslow.

A Cyclone WATCH is current between Whim Creek to Mardie and Coral Bay to Cape

Cuvier and adjacent inland parts of the west Pilbara.

The Cyclone WATCH from Whim Creek to Port Hedland has been cancelled.

At 8:00 am WST Tropical Cyclone Iggy, Category 2 was relocated and estimated to

be

380 kilometres northwest of Exmouth and

610 kilometres west of Karratha and

moving south southeast at 9 kilometres per hour.

Tropical Cyclone Iggy is expected to steadily intensify as it moves to the

southeast towards the Northwest Cape.

Gales may develop near the Pilbara coast between Ningaloo and Mardie tonight

including Exmouth and Onslow extending south to Coral Bay Sunday morning. There

is the risk of Destructive winds in excess of 125 kilometres per hour

developing between Onslow and Ningaloo during Sunday. Should Iggy take a more

easterly track then gales could extend further east to Whim Creek including the

Karratha/Dampier region during Sunday. Gales are no longer expected to extend

as far east as Port Hedland.

Heavy rainfall is likely in coastal parts of the Pilbara over the weekend and

there will continue to be large swells along the Pilbara and Kimberley coasts.

FESA State Emergency Service (SES) advises of the following community alerts:

BLUE ALERT: People in or near coastal and island communities between Mardie and

Coral Bay including the communities of Mardie, Onslow, Exmouth and Coral Bay

need to prepare for cyclonic weather and organise an emergency kit including

first aid kit, torch, portable radio, spare batteries, food and water.

Communities between Whim Creek and Cape Cuvier should listen for the next

advice.

People needing SES assistance can call 132 500. In a life threatening situation

call 000. For more safety tips visit www.fesa.wa.gov.au

Details of Tropical Cyclone Iggy at 8:00 am WST:

.Centre located near…… 20.0 degrees South 111.1 degrees East

.Location accuracy…….. within 65 kilometres

.Recent movement………. towards the south southeast at 9 kilometres per hour

.Wind gusts near centre… 130 kilometres per hour and INTENSIFYING

.Severity category…….. 2

.Central pressure……… 976 hectoPascals

The next advice will be issued by 12:00 pm WST Saturday 28 January.

Cyclone advices and State Emergency Service Community Alerts are available by

dialling 1300 659 210

You can read FESA’s advice here:

Time of issue: 5.10pm

Date of issue: 27 January 2012

Continue to prepare for flooding in Cape Leveque in the Kimberley

People in Cape Leveque should continue to prepare for possible flooding expected overnight and over the weekend.

There is no immediate danger but you need to keep up to date in case the situation changes.

WHAT TO DO:

FESA’s State Emergency Service (SES) advises you to:

• Watch for changes in water levels so you are ready if you need to relocate.

• Prepare to relocate equipment and livestock early so they are not caught in floodwaters.

• Prepare an emergency kit including enough canned food and water to last for four days.

• Never walk, swim or play in floodwaters, they are dangerous.

• Find out when shops and businesses will close.

• Put fuel in your vehicle.

If driving:

• Floodways and river levels may rise rapidly so be careful at crossings.

• Obey road closure signs and do not drive into water of unknown depth and current.

• Take care on gravel and unsealed roads as they may be slippery and muddy, and you could get bogged.

ROAD CLOSURES:

A number of roads may be closed.

For further details call Main Roads WA on 138 138.

FLOOD DETAILS:

As at 4.20pm the Bureau of Meteorology advises over the next 48 hours Tropical Cyclone Iggy will steadily intensify while moving generally southeastwards towards the western Pilbara coast.

Taking into account the rainfall that has been reported in the west Kimberley during the past few days due to the strong monsoonal activity, significant stream rises are possible with local flooding far forecast for the area during the weekend.

Rainfall reports for the 24 hour period to 9.00am today for the west Kimberley coastal streams has generally been less than 30mm. Very heavy rainfall has been recorded in Cape Leveque and Cygnet Bay area with about 400mm during the past 48 hours to 9.00am today. Rainfall reported for last six hours to 3.00pm today include 50mm at Cygnet Bay and 43mm at Lombadina Airstrip.

For the latest flood information visit www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood or call 1300 659 213.

Current river levels are available from Department of Water at www.water.wa.gov.au.

WHAT SES ARE DOING:

SES volunteers are monitoring the situation.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS:

• For SES assistance call 132 500

• In a life threatening situation call 000

• For the latest flood information call 1300 659 213 or visit www.bom.gov.au/wa/flood.

• For information about road conditions and closures contact the local shire or Main Roads WA on 138 138.

KEEP UP TO DATE:

Call 1300 657 209, visit www.fesa.wa.gov.au or listen to news bulletins.

Robin Chapple MLC

Robin Chapple MLC hopes plans to build a gas plant at James Price Point will be abandoned.

He is commenting on Woodside’s plans to sell down most of its stake in the Browse Basin gas reserve.

You can read his statement here:

ROBIN CHAPPLE MLC

Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

MEDIA RELEASE

WOODSIDE BROWSE SALE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BETTER GAS OUTCOME

Friday, 27 January 2012

Greens MLC Robin Chapple said that Woodside’s decision to sell $1bn of the Browse LNG project was an opportunity for the company, its partners and prospective buyers to find a better location for the gas hub.

“Woodside’s decision for a $1 billion-plus auction of most of its 50 per cent stake in the Browse gas project is a tremendous reprieve for the ecological and cultural integrity of the Kimberley and a great opportunity for the Joint Venture partners to re-assess the location of the project”, Mr Chapple said.

“There are locations along our vast coastline that are less environmentally and culturally significant than James Price Point – which the Browse JV partners are very much aware of.”

“It is common knowledge that the James Price Point site was not the preferred location for several of the partners.”

“Woodside’s financial woes represents a chance for the partners and potential purchasers to more fully assess the huge social, heritage, and environmental impacts of a gas hub on the current site, as highlighted by the committed West Kimberley community who have opposed this project from the start.”

“I am fully confident that a comprehensive examination of the impacts of a gas hub at James Price Point would render an alternative site the more attractive option.”

Mr Chapple said that in any re-assessment of the Browse project, the Greens would demand that fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from the project – estimated to be up to 8 million tonnes per annum – be taken into account.

“The EPA and the Federal government must account for the massive carbon footprint of this project, and its impact on the State’s emissions targets to 2020 and beyond ahead of any final approval for gas processing”, Mr Chapple said.