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Black Mountain's conclusion that its drilling will not affect water resources is without foundation, and threatened species and National Heritage are at risk, according to the Federal environment department.
Black Mountain Energy’s planned drilling for gas is likely to have a significant impact on threatened species, groundwater and the nearby West Kimberley National Heritage Place, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The cautions were documented in the reasons why the Department will assess the project under Federal legislation published in April, but not reported until now.
Black Mountain Energy (BME) is seeking environmental approval to drill 20 wells using hydraulic fracturing, which, if successful, could lead to hundreds of wells producing gas from the Canning Basin in the Kimberley.
Each well will require 100 million litres of underground water, mixed with chemicals, to be injected at high pressure to fracture the rock and allow gas to flow to the surface more freely.
The Department concluded the initial exploration drilling will, or is likely to, have a significant impact on four triggers for applying the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act: threatened species, migratory species, water resources and National Heritage.
The assessment was largely based on the 3910-page Environment Review Document that BME submitted to WA’s Environmental Protection Authority in 2024.
BME concluded its drilling would have no impact on water flow or quality.
The Department damned that assessment as having inadequate justification, with limited local data and no detailed study of Mount Hardman Creek, which feeds into the Fitzroy River and is only one kilometre from BME’s operations.
There was also concern about BME wanting to withdraw water for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, from the shallow Liveringa Aquifer, which is strongly connected to water flow in the Fitzroy River, where small pools of water over the dry season allow aquatic species to survive.
Peter Milne
Up to 19 threatened species and 15 species of migrating birds may be found within 20km of the drilling.
The Department concluded BME’s drilling was “likely to have a significant impact” on the critically endangered Northern Blue-tongued Skink and the vulnerable Greater Bilby and Largetooth Sawfish, the largest freshwater fish in Australia.
The Northern Blue-tongued Skink is already threatened by the growing spread of cane toads in WA, which are predicted to spread to the drilling area. BME plans to clear more than 100 hectares of suitable habitat.
Most skinks are found near water sources, meaning the Department’s concern about BME’s lack of understanding of how it will affect the local water supply adds to its concerns about the Skink.
BME’s position was that its drilling posed no credible direct risk to the Largetooth Sawfish, but the Department concluded, “there is a real chance or possibility that the proposed action will adversely affect habitat critical to the survival of the species.”
The Fitzroy River, 16km south of BME’s proposed drilling, is considered an important area for the species to spend the first few years of their lives before moving to the ocean as adults.
BME also wants to clear more than 20 hectares of vegetation where Bilbies have been found in four surveys since 2013.
Where the largely US-owned firm wants to drill is near the boundary of the West Kimberley area, which was placed on the National Heritage List in 2011 due to its biological richness, undisturbed landscape, and at least 40,000 years of Aboriginal culture.
The Department concluded that without robust modelling to understand how the drilling could affect ground and surface water, it could not be sure that a significant impact on the West Kimberley National Heritage Place could be avoided.
It also found BME had only consulted Traditional Owner groups that have native title over its area of operations and had ignored surrounding groups that could also be affected.
BME is expected to soon know the recommendation of WA’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), which issued the company’s environmental review document (ERD) for public comment in August 2024.
Lock the Gate Alliance WA spokeswoman Simone van Hattem said the Federal Statement of Reasons showed Black Mountain’s Valhalla fracking project was a threat to the intricate and precious waterways of the Kimberley, and the nature that relies on them.
“Fracking is inherently risky because it requires the high-speed injection of huge volumes of water, sand, and toxic chemicals several kilometres beneath the earth's surface, often through important aquifers,” she said.
“The Kimberley is a unique and precious place with unrivalled natural richness. It must not be sacrificed to dirty, dangerous fracking."
The WA EPA is expected to publish its recommendation on Black Mountain's plans soon. The company needs approval from both the WA and Federal environment ministers to go ahead.
Black Mountain Energy did not respond to Boiling Cold's questions.
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