The Great Escape Charter Company » Save the Kimberley

Could the Timor Sea oil leak be on a scale with Exxon Valdez?

Virginia — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 05:18:20 +0000

Having failed for a fourth time to plug the massive oil spill that has been leaking into the Timor Sea for over two months, environmentalist fear the extent of the impact of the oil spill, as details of the spill finally makes the international press (images below courtesy of WWF report).

“The team has described the leak as a “massive environmental disaster” on a scale with the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, considered one of the most devastating, human-caused environmental disasters ever to occur at sea.” Kara Burns/WWF

Oil-spilling into the Timor sea

Emaciated dolphin swimming in the oil

Sea snake in the oil

Slideshow of images from The Times Online.
Article from The Times, UK press
In other media…

Closer to home, there are doubts on the reliability of the tests being carried out on the marine life caught up in the spill. Click here to read more from The Age newspaper.

Oil Spill off the Kimberley Coast

Virginia — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 03:18:12 +0000

Oil and gas is such a contentious issue at the moment in Australia’s North West. Many are for and many are against the development of the a LNG plant 60kms north of Broome. If this goes ahead we will see unimaginable changes in the landscape, community and environment in the next 5-10 years in the Kimberley region.

In the meantime, we are faced with the negative side of oil developments with the reality of the oil spill in the Timor Sea off the Kimberley coast. This has been leaking 300-400 barrels of oil per day for the last 9 weeks!! You just cannot begin to imagine what the damaging effects will be, yet we are hearing very little about such an environmental disaster.

Click here to read about other risks it poses and the latest from the ABC news website.

Rowley Shoals Marine Park

Virginia — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:54:06 +0000

It maybe bye bye Kimberley cruising for 2009 but it is hello, Rowley Shoals…

In addition to the tropical currents and spectacular coral gardens, there are teams of scientists and expedition divers who are working on research out at the Shoals.

For a more detailed account, click on Grant Bradly’s blog and short video clip from a recent visit to the Rowley Shoals, sitting approx 300kms NW of Broome.

You can also check out The Great Escape Charter Company at the Rowley Shoals at Greatest Dive Sites – this is a work in progress, so feel free to send in your dive stories and images.

Havin’ a whale of a time!!

Virginia — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:24:31 +0000

It is that time of year on the Kimberley coast….whale season. At this time of year we are spoilt by sights of whales frolicking, blowing and breaching just off the coast of Broome, the Dampier Penninsula and further along the Kimberley coast. More and more research is being done to recognise the importance of the Kimberley coast in the migratory and breeding behaviour of the whales.

Last week, MV Great Escape’s guest and crew were treated to a special sight of a pod of Pilot whales playing right near the boat.

The Heavy Hand of Industry

Virginia — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:43:29 +0000

We ask ourselves, is there nowhere on our planet that is safe from the heavy hand of industry?

In our Kimberley backyard, we are facing the prospect of industrialisation and the negative impacts it will bring…

ENVIRONMENTAL

SOCIAL
Reputation as a pristine tourism destination would be damaged
Loss of community due to fly in/fly out workers
Alcohol & drug problems would be exacerbated
Pressure on emergency. health and dental services that are already stretched
Locals and tourists alike would be prevented from visiting their favourite areas along the coast
Increase noise and air pollution
Threat to other industries and livelihoods such as fishing, indigenous nature-based tourism and pearling.

Breaching Whale, Annabelle Sandes

Example of an LNG Plant

What do you prefer to look at?

Old Country, New Country

Virginia — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 06:22:32 +0000

Save the Kimberley recently informed us about

OLD COUNTRY NEW COUNTRY
-The Journey of a Raft

This is the poignant and politically powerful story of Bardi Elder Roy Wiggan passing on to his nephew Albert the traditional aboriginal craft of raft-making. In the process, they travel from their country – the rugged and ancient beauty of the Kimberley region, one of the few remaining wildernesses on the planet — to the once pristine, now industrialised Pilbara to the south.

As Roy instructs Albert in Bardi raft-building, the land of their people is being destroyed by mining developments. To the Bardi people, “country” is not real estate to be bought and sold. It is the essence of their aboriginal being. But, now, Roy and Albert believe that mining “will ‘destroy our lifestyle, our culture.”

Roy and Albert’s dialogue in this beautifully-shot piece revolves around not just raft building, but their thoughts on the destructive impact of “new country” industrialisation on their “old country.”

‘Our job was to look after this country. Our job was to respect this land. It’s in our dreaming. It’s in our songs passed on for thousands of years. Now they want to take it all away — the last bit of Australia: The Kimberleys,’ Albert Wiggan says.

According to George Negus, the program’s presenter and Co-Executive Producer with Kirsty Cockburn, the story highlights two countries, two Australias – “theirs and ours that we call progress.”

“This short-film asks: Do these people stay with the old ways and continue their traditional lifestyle and culture? Or do they take the new ways and give up the very thing by which they define themselves ?” he asks.

Click here to preview a short trailer of the SBS documentary Old Country, New Country

‘There aren’t many traditional elders still around today unfortunately, especially ones who are willing to speak on camera, so this film is really special …’ Missy Higgins, May 2009.

Click here to familiarise yourself with James Price Point and see pristine coastline we are trying to save.

Go Green!!

Virginia — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 05:24:23 +0000

We cannot travel very far these days without the words climate change and eco tourism being thrown around. I guess the travel industry plays an important role in supporting the “Green Revolution” and the green initiatives as we stamp our carbon footprints wherever we go.

In the Kimberley cruise industry, we are all responsible for only taking pictures and leaving only footprints…..the ecotourism accreditation ensures that all the operators maintain sustainable practices whilst showcasing the pristine wilderness of the Kimberley coast and Rowley Shoals. Click here for more info about the EcoTourism Accreditation and Green Guide

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, supported by Tourism Australia are soon to be launching a new Climate Change Guide which will outline the issues that face the tourism industry.

In addition to GOING green, we can BE green by taking the lead of Tourism Victoria and ‘green training’ ideas that can be found in the Sustainability in Tourism of www.tourismexcellence.com.au
(source: ATE Daily, 16th June 2009)

One step closer to Saving the Kimberley

Virginia — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 06:16:20 +0000

Here in Broome, we are breathing a sigh of relief as the State government has extended the deadline for talks between the State, Woodside and Indigenous groups.

State Premier, Colin Barnett has done a back flip from his threat of compulsory acquisition of the land at James Price Point.

To read more follow the link to the article from online %20/en-story.php?/1/71507/Kimberley-LNG-hub-talks-miss-deadline-/dba”>WA Business News.

If industrialization does go ahead, read about what we stand to lose.

Broome’s Musical Protest against Kimberley Gas

Virginia — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:06:47 +0000

Last Friday, a unified Broome protested against the proposed industrialization of James Price Point in a concert with Broome’s own Pigram Brothers, John Butler, and Rob Hirst (Midnight Oil) to name a few.

The town came together in an alcohol-free event to show that they will not sit back and let the heavy hand of industry just come in and destroy this beautiful coastline.

The event did not get the national press that it deserves so we need everyone to raise their voice and help Broome to fight against this development.

To find out more see the Save the Kimberley Blog