❓ Question regarding the impact of sea level rise on rock outcrops in the North Scott Reef and Browse Basin, and the implications for WA's claim to the Browse gas field. The department is unable to answer some questions due to uncertainty and lack of information.
AnsweredQoN 1256Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the three rock outcrops that have been discovered by Geoscience Australia, that are part of the North
Scott Reef and Browse Basin, regarded as 'islands' under the law of
the sea because they are naturally formed and are 'above ordinary high
water', and I ask: (a) how long does the
department project these islands will remain above ordinary high water due to the advent of predicted sea level rise; (b) for each of the three
rock outcrops what is the individual height above ordinary high water; (c) will
the Minister identify the location of each of these outcrops; and (d) when
these three rock outcrops
drop below ordinary high water, what will be
the status of the State’s current claim to ownership of the increased
proportion of the Browse gas field?
refer to the three rock outcrops that have been discovered by Geoscience Australia, that are part of the North
Scott Reef and Browse Basin, regarded as 'islands' under the law of
the sea because they are naturally formed and are 'above ordinary high
water', and I ask: (a) how long does the
department project these islands will remain above ordinary high water due to the advent of predicted sea level rise; (b) for each of the three
rock outcrops what is the individual height above ordinary high water; (c) will
the Minister identify the location of each of these outcrops; and (d) when
these three rock outcrops
drop below ordinary high water, what will be
the status of the State’s current claim to ownership of the increased
proportion of the Browse gas field?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 August 2014
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food representing the Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
63 days
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) advises:
(a)
Due to the wide range of views on and associated uncertainty of the effect of the specific impacts of climate change, DMP is unable to answer this question.
(b)
This information is held by Geoscience Australia, and has not yet been provided to DMP.
(c)
This information is held by Geoscience Australia, not DMP. DMP has to date only been provided with the new Australian Maritime Boundaries for the area. Based on this information DMP assumes the rocks are in the North Scott Reef and Seringapatam Reef areas.
(d)
Once "islands" have been identified, it is understood from information from Geoscience Australia that the jurisdictional status would not change should the islands subsequently drop below the high water level.
(a)
Due to the wide range of views on and associated uncertainty of the effect of the specific impacts of climate change, DMP is unable to answer this question.
(b)
This information is held by Geoscience Australia, and has not yet been provided to DMP.
(c)
This information is held by Geoscience Australia, not DMP. DMP has to date only been provided with the new Australian Maritime Boundaries for the area. Based on this information DMP assumes the rocks are in the North Scott Reef and Seringapatam Reef areas.
(d)
Once "islands" have been identified, it is understood from information from Geoscience Australia that the jurisdictional status would not change should the islands subsequently drop below the high water level.
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