With the increase of between 140 and 250 extra police in Broome for protection of Woodside as they continue to do destructive investigations at James Price Point, the Broome Community thought it a proper thing to present a letter of concern to the Police and as it was Mothers Day as well, each Community member presented the police a flower. Images © Rod Hartvigsen - Murranji Photography
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More than 600 people have gathered outside Broome police station in Western Australia's Kimberley in a showdown with authorities over a proposed gas hub.
An estimated 250 police with riot gear started arriving in the coastal town on Friday night in what residents say is a pre-emptive move to clear protesters from the controversial James Price Point gas hub site 60km north of town.
Residents said they feared police would move in as early as Monday morning to physically remove protesters from the Woodside Petroleum site, as a Wednesday deadline looms for a Broome Shire move-on notice to clear camps in the area.
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"The community is feeling like they're in lock-down here," a Broome resident, who did not wish to be identified, said.
"We're expecting a showdown tomorrow morning.
"It could be tomorrow, Tuesday or Wednesday, because the Shire has instructed one of the protest camps to be removed by Wednesday."
The resident said police with riot gear continued to fly or be bussed in from Perth and regional centres, with another 60 arriving on Saturday - bringing the estimated total to 250 officers.
He said the heavy police presence in the normally quiet tourist town was "unprecedented since the Noonkanbah dispute", referring to the violent clashes of the 1970s and 80s between WA police and protesters near Fitzroy Crossing, when oil company AMAX was given state approval to drill on an Aboriginal sacred site.
The James Price Point dispute has many parallels with Noonkanbah, with the WA government locked in battle with conservationists, local Aborigines and other Kimberley residents over plans to compulsorily acquire the site for a $30 billion liquid natural gas (LNG) processing plant.
Lead developer Woodside has argued it will inject much-needed funds into the local economy, while those opposed claim the site is culturally and environmentally significant with better alternatives, such as existing gas plants in the Pilbara.
WA Premier Colin Barnett claimed on Friday some of those now picketing the site were "professional protesters", but another Broome resident, Anne Poelina, said most were locals who did not want the project to destroy their pristine environment or disrupt the town's unique way of life.
"We are the families of Broome residents, we are not professional protesters, and we are concerned about what is coming," Ms Poelina said.
"This is going to be the biggest industrial precinct in the world, and it will have an impact on the families and the environment."
While many of the 600 who gathered outside Broome police station left flowers and gifts for the riot squad officers "to give to their mums on Mother's Day", some were not happy and police did not go outside to meet with them.
"The sergeant on the desk said he didn't even have five minutes to come and speak to the community of Broome and take (a prepared) letter," Mitch Torres said.
A Broome police spokeswoman said the crowd had gathered peacefully outside and had started to disperse by early afternoon.
She would not comment further.
- AAP
Comments
It's not a picket, it's a blockade - quite different
"Save the Kimberley" Picket? Who writes this stuff! It's not a picket, it's a blockade - quite different! You don't get over 60 arrests in 6 months of a picket! And Save the Kimberley is a specific group involved in the Broome Community No Gas Campaign.
Corrupt shire not representing its residents, out with the mayor
It's quite clear that the shire is not representing it's residents so why not march on the shire and forcibly out the mayor!? That would shake up just who is the boss! I' quite tired community representatives that let power get into their head (not to mention corporate money) and treat their residents as garbage. The mere fact that the shire got the police involved against the residents demands an immediate dismissal of the shire, don't you think?
And what's whith the adoption of the corporate language? It's not the James Price Point gas hub site it's the James Price Point full stop. Whether it ever becomes a gas hub at all is just wishful thinking not to be in any way employed by employees of the community such as the police or the shire. Once again a clear indication of corruption of the shire offices. Out with the mayor!