Buru receives Noonkanbah backing

The Aboriginal community that was at the centre of a major land rights dispute in the early 1980’s, sparked by oil exploration at a remote Kimberley cattle station, has announced its support for a gas ‘fracking’ program planned by Perth company Buru Energy.

The Yungngora community at Noonkanbah station said it supports further gas exploration at a well previously drilled by Buru, which is testing for ‘tight’ gas.

The well forms part of the Laurel formation tight gas exploration program, which has just been given full approval by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.

In reaching the decision, independent scientific specialists appointed by the community assessed the full environment plan for the tight gas exploration program and prepared reports with recommendations for the community to consider. 

The community provided its in-principle support at a formal meeting yesterday at Yungngora community.

Yungngora Community Association chairperson Caroline Mulligan said the support recognised the community’s strong connections with the land and the process adopted by Buru Energy showed respect for the land, the people and their cultural values.