‘The spin has been wrong’: rock art expert raises concerns over critical report ahead of Woodside decision | Clear Air

Woodside Energy wants to extend the life of its gas export processing facility in Western Australia's Pilbara region.

The plant has been operating since the late 1980s and has approval to run until 2030 .

Woodside wants to be able to keep it going until 2070 well beyond when Australia and the countries it sells gas to have pledged to reach net zero emissions.

The biggest factor is what local pollution from the plant means for a large and globally significant collection of rock art across what is known as the Murujuga cultural landscape.

Researchers have rock collected near the site in 1994 that does not have the porosity holes on the surface indicating significant damage from pollutants that has developed over the past 30 years .

Smith argues there is only one logical conclusion. “The spin around it has been wrong,” he says.