8th January 2014 Chevron has temporarily stopped using its Brolga camp near Wheatstone amid safety concerns raised by the Shire of Ashburton, regarding the camp’s close proximity to Macedon, which is now an operational gas plant.
The 380-bed Brolga camp near Chevron’s $32.4 billion Wheatstone LNG project was used to house some of the 3000 workers constructing the project.
Chevron bought the camp site from BHP Billiton last year, after BHP completed its Macedon gas project. The Shire consented to Chevron’s plans to use the camp for its Wheatstone project, subject to strict conditions including safety and indemnity.
However the company moved workers off the site in late December after challenging some of these conditions, and the dispute has now been referred to the State Administrative Tribunal.
Shire president Kerry White said the safety concerns have been raised because of Brolga’s proximity to Macedon, which is now an operational gas plant, in particular there are concerns over potential gas explosions or leakage; “As it is close to an industrial gas works, it is not the long term wish of the Shire to have people living and working in a potentially dangerous location,” White said.
Chevron have commissioned an independent report on safety at the site and said risk studies showed the camp can be occupied while the Macedon plant is operational, a finding it says is supported by the Department of Mines and Petroleum.
Source: http://www.miningaustralia.com.au/news/chevron-unable-to-use-brolga-workers-camp-amid-saf