The Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council issues this statement in response to the WA Environmental Protection Authority’s recommendation concerning the Valhalla Gas Exploration and Appraisal Programme in the Kimberley.
The Martuwarra Council is deeply concerned with the proposal to drill and frack gas wells within the heart of Martuwarra, Fitzroy River watershed. The proposal risks irreversible impacts to Living Waters, Country, and the future well-being of all Kimberley children and grandchildren.
Martuwarra is not a resource to be traded off. It is Living Water — a life-giving force that sustains Kimberley people, ecosystems, cultures, and identity. Protecting Martuwarra and the Fitzroy River watershed is our responsibility as good ancestors and is central to water justice and climate justice for ALL.
Martuwarra Council Executive Chair, Dr Anne Poelina, calls on Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn and the WA Government to Do No Harm and to reject the Bennett Resources proposal to frack the Kimberley.
‘Good faith begins from the principle of do no harm through applying the pre-cautionary approach. As a matter of public interest and to prevent ruthless risk taking with our lives, we call on the Environmental Protection Authority to provide the evidence this development can be contained. Furthermore, for the EPA to act with moral obligation to ensure Free, Prior and continuing Informed consent for all Kimberley people on the consequences of these long-lasting impacts, and what these impacts might be.’
Intergenerational justice, not short-term extractionMartuwarra Council stands for intergenerational justice, decisions made today must not compromise the rights of future generations to clean water, healthy Country, cultural continuity, peace and security in a changing climate.
Approving fracking in the Kimberley would push risk and uncertainty onto our Kimberley families and children, while the benefits flow elsewhere.
Global heritage responsibilityThe Kimberley is internationally recognised for its extraordinary biocultural values. Martuwarra is a River the world looks to for leadership in protecting living landscapes, not opening new fossil fuel frontiers.
Undermining hard climate adaptation work Kimberley Aboriginal people are undertaking vital, practical work to protect Country — including strengthening culture, caring for living waters, managing fire, restoring ecosystems, and building resilience to a hotter and harsher climate.
This is climate adaptation work undertaken not only for local communities, but for the greater good of all.
Allowing fracking expansion in the Kimberley undermines this hard work, diminishes trust, and sends the wrong message: that greed and extraction can take precedence over intergenerational responsibility, as communities strive to safeguard shared climate futures.
Water justice and climate justice are threads of the same cloth, which means Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn and the WA Government must reject proposals that deepen climate harm and further disadvantage current and future generations.
Martuwarra Council urges the Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn and the WA Government to honour its responsibility and act with care, restraint, and integrity:
Do No Harm. Protect Living Waters. Uphold duty of care. Choose intergenerational justice.Contact:
Marco Moreno
General Manager
Martuwarra Fitzroy River Council
Email: gm@martuwarra.org
