Environmental Scoping Document for Subsea 7 14th February, 2018

The EPA released the draft Environmental Scoping Document (ESD) for the Learmonth Bundle Site proposal. In it the EPA have outlined key environmental studies that Subsea 7 need to provide for the proposal. Stakeholder engagement in this part of the process is not normally considered, so we’re really pleased that this opportunity has been provided. This is our chance to look carefully at the ESD document and see if there are things that still need to be addressed. Any submissions with suggestions to the EPA about gaps in the research need to be submitted online by the 28th of February. Information about the ESD is available online: http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/learmonth-bundle-site. Just scroll down the page and click on the heading ‘3. Assessment’ and ‘Scoping’, to find it. It is also available at:

§ Exmouth Library, Maidstone Crescent, Exmouth § State Library of WA, Perth Cultural Centre, 25 Francis Street, Perth WA 6000

What’s happening with the proposed Scheme Amendments? The EPA has decided that because the Town Planning Scheme Amendment No.32 and Learmonth Bundle Site proposal are so closely related, it will conduct the environmental review process for them at the same time. This is a good thing because both proposals will have serious consequences for Exmouth Gulf and the World Heritage Area. Considering them separately would diminish the relationship they have and the longterm and their cumulative impacts. This means the EPA will not make a decision regarding the Scheme Amendment’s environmental review until the Subsea 7 proposal’s environmental review is also completed. It’s important to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to protect our amenity, local ecotourism businesses, and of course all the things that we love about Exmouth and the beautiful Gulf, including Heron Point. The assessment process on the project may take some time, so it’ll be important to stay up to date with things as they progress. We hope you’ll check in from time to time here or on our Facebook page for updates.