Tiwi Islanders lose bid to prevent Santos’ Barossa gas project

Gas giant Santos has been granted permission to resume laying an underwater pipeline for its $5.7 billion Barossa gas project in the Timor Sea, north of Darwin. This ruling comes following months of legal arguments from Tiwi Islanders that Santos' cultural heritage survey had not properly addressed potential risks to underwater sacred sites and culturally significant spiritual beings, such as the Crocodile Man and Mother Ampiji, also known as the Rainbow Serpent. 

A leading environmental engineer has warned that an assessment known as the water trigger, in place for more than 10 years and expanded by federal parliament in December, is still "too vague" and gives too much "wriggle room" to big gas companies, putting Australia's ground and surface water at risk. 

And researchers are putting wild animals to the test in their native habitats by leaving puzzles and baits to see which animals can successfully move sliding panels or levers to receive food rewards. Experts believe the data collected could help improve our conservation efforts at a time when animals are facing rapid, human-induced change. 

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Santos wins legal battle against Tiwi Islands elders over $5.7b Barossa gas project's underwater pipeline
Gas giant Santos has been granted permission to resume laying an underwater pipeline for its Barossa gas project after winning a legal battle against a group of Tiwi Islands elders.

Water trigger 'too vague' to stop onshore gas expansion
Intended protection laws will fail to prevent big gas companies putting Australia's ground and surface water at risk, a leading environmental engineer has warned.

Native wildlife show off puzzle skills as animal researchers investigate problem-solving
Researchers are putting animals to the test in their native habitats by leaving puzzles and baits in a bid they hope will improve conservation efforts. 

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