The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has accepted amendments to Woodside Energy’s Proposed Browse to North West Shelf Development, ruling the changes to be of “substantially the same character” as the hydrocarbon extraction project already under assessment.
The State Waters component of the development — focused on extracting hydrocarbons from the Torosa reservoir, located 425 kilometres north of Broome — has been under independent EPA review since 2019.
In May 2025, Woodside requested amendments under section 43A of the Environmental Protection Act 1986.
The EPA responded by taking the unusual step of releasing the proposed changes for a four-week public comment period, drawing significant community attention.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh confirmed the weight of public engagement, stating: “The more than 17,700 submissions received during this consultation were considered by the EPA.”
The accepted amendments include a suite of measures aimed at reducing risks and refining development boundaries.
These changes involve prohibiting planned flaring at drilling units during night hours, excluding drill centres within 20 kilometres of Sandy Islet, narrowing the proposed development footprint, and committing to technology designed to lower the likelihood of a loss-of-well control event.
Despite these modifications, Walsh acknowledged the concerns raised in public submissions.
“Issues raised by submitters included the uncertainty of the unproven pyrotechnically actuated shear ram technology, and the extent of the reduction of the proposal area around Scott Reef and its impact on marine species such as green turtles and pygmy blue whales,” he noted.
However, the EPA concluded the amendments did not fundamentally shift the scope or nature of the project under assessment.
“The EPA considered the matters raised during consultation as well as the proponent’s responses to submissions, and we have concluded that the amendments don’t change the previously identified key environmental factors,” Walsh said.
“The amended proposal remains a development to extract hydrocarbons from the Torosa reservoir in Western Australian state waters.”
The acceptance of the changes is not the end of the scrutiny process.
The EPA will continue to finalise its full environmental assessment before delivering a report and recommendations to the Minister for Environment.
That report will then be open to a three-week public appeal period, allowing stakeholders a further opportunity to challenge or support the findings.
The Minister will ultimately determine whether the proposal is approved.
Alongside the EPA’s deliberations, the broader Browse development remains under independent review at the federal level.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is assessing the larger proposal under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The dual processes highlight the project’s scale and sensitivities, as well as the competing pressures of energy demand, environmental stewardship, and community expectation.
With nearly 18,000 public submissions already factored into the state review, the Browse assessment continues to attract widespread attention as one of Western Australia’s most closely scrutinised resource projects in recent years.
At the centre of the decision is whether Woodside’s proposed safeguards and adjustments will adequately protect marine habitats and species while allowing hydrocarbon extraction to proceed.
The EPA’s forthcoming report, and the Minister’s final determination, will be watched closely not only by industry, but also by environmental groups and the communities along WA’s Kimberley coast.
