Montara spill: PTTEP struggled to plug well, which leaked oil into Western Australian waters.
'Oz should impose WA moratorium'
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) is calling for a moratorium on oil and gas developments in Western Australia in the aftermath of the oil spill at PTTEP’s Montara project.
The community-based environmental organisation claimed the moratorium is necessary with WA struggling to cope with oil leaks the size of the Montara spill, according to an ABC news report.
"Oil spill recovery operations and the capacity for them is increased here in [WA’s Kimberley region], so there needs to be more equipment, a more rapid response and more back-up responses for problems when they arise," ACF’s Don Henry told ABC news.
Henry said the current Montara oil leak highlights the need for increased protection of marine environments off the north-west coast.
"There should be a moratorium on oil and gas in those Commonwealth waters until the proper marine conservation plans are in place," he said.
This week, the Federal Government signalled its intention to create a number of marine parks between Shark Bay and the East Kimberley.
The foundation's Don Henry says all oil and gas mining should halt until the Commonwealth decides which areas will be protected.
- All of Upstream's coverage of the Montara blowout and spill is available in the related articles section to the right of this story.