Author Tim Winton and singer John Butler, plus leading reef scientists and conservationists have rallied to protect WA tourist destination, Scott Reef, Australia’s largest offshore coral reef, from what they say is Woodside’s risky gas drilling plans.

Scott Reef supports more than over 1500 species, including endangered turtles, sea snakes and pygmy blue whales. Woodside plans to drill up to 50 gas wells around Scott Reef, some as close as 2km from the reef ecosystem.

A dozen marine scientists, film-makers and conservationists made the 300km voyage from the West Australian coast out to Scott Reef, one of Australia’s most significant and biodiverse coral reefs, to document the threats posed by Woodside’s Browse gas proposal on the Burrup Peninsula.

Burrup Hub is the biggest new fossil fuel project in the southern hemisphere, set to emit more than 6 billion tonnes of climate pollution by 2070 if approved. It’s currently being assessed by the WA and federal governments with decisions expected soon.

The group have come together to stop Woodside’s giant Browse gas proposal at Scott Reef, the jewel in the crown of WA’s Kimberley coast and one of the last wild places left in this country, they say.

It would take a four-hour flight and a three-hour bus trip, and then an 18-hour boat trip to get to Scott Reef.

“Wild places feed our spirit. And our bodies. And our planet,”author Winton said. “They are not a luxury – they’re a necessity. The world’s coral reefs are in desperate trouble, and Scott Reef is like a sentinel. If we lose Scott Reef, it’ll signal the end for all coral reefs. And when they cook and die, we’ll be left with a poorer, harsher world.

“The idea that your kids, and their kids and their kids’ kids, might never have the chance to see a place like Scott Reef – it disturbs me, it makes me angry. The injustice of it bewilders me.

“Thousands upon thousands of people got together to save Ningaloo Reef, thousands of people got together to save James Price Point –– and they’re going to do the same to save Scott Reef. Because this isn’t just about rescuing one remarkable place – it’s about saving our climate, our planet, our home.”

Musician Butler said the proposal was not about jobs but profit.

“Woodside’s Browse gas proposal is not about jobs or our economy, it’s not about our climate or our community – it’s about Woodside’s profit,” he said.

“Scott Reef is one of the most beautiful, pristine parts of the planet. I journeyed to this incredible coral reef with some of Australia’s most successful campaigners to stop Scott Reef from being completely exploited by Woodside’s proposal for more than fifty gas wells.”

A team of filmmakers, scientists and campaigners spent several days diving and filming at Scott Reef for an upcoming documentary about its biodiversity, including endangered whales, turtles and sea snakes.

Dr Ben Fitzpatrick, director of Oceanwise Australian and the leader of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Group for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said Scott Reef is one of Australia’s most distinctive coral reef ecosystems.

Scott Reef is the largest offshore oceanic reef in Australia.

“It’s the largest offshore oceanic reef in Australia and it’s extremely significant from a biodiversity perspective. Visiting Scott Reef, and seeing the endemic sea snakes, the large marine fauna and the marine mammals like turtles and manta rays first-hand, I can see clearly how the imposition of Woodside’s oil and gas plans on this environment would threaten some of the world’s most amazing marine environmental values.”

Brinkley Davies, a marine biologist, professional surfer and free diver, said it was difficult to get to Scott Reef because of its remoteness so it was still pristine. It would take a four-hour flight and a three-hour bus trip, and then an 18-hour boat trip to get to there.

“There’s a lot of unique things about Scott Reef that I have not experienced anywhere else in Australia – genetically distinct green sea turtles that only lay their eggs here, the dusky sea snake which isn’t found anywhere else,” she said.

“It’s honestly completely baffling to me that someone could even consider threatening Scott Reef in any way. For example, an oil spill out here would be catastrophic, and it’s easy to see how that would happen if Woodside’s Browse gas proposal is allowed.”

Tim Winton is a campaigner against drilling on Scott Reef.

Conservation Council of WA executive director Jess Beckerling said further Woosdie exploration was “incomprehensible”.

“It would just be incomprehensible for Woodside to be allowed to drill for gas underneath this extraordinary coral reef ecosystem, and all the incredible marine life that depend on it,” he said.

“It’s incumbent on the state and federal governments to protect this incredible coral reef ecosystem and reject Woodside’s Browse gas proposal. WA has such a powerful and proud legacy of standing up for places like Scott Reef – this is the next fight, and West Australians are ready for it.”

Australian Marine Conservation Society WA director Paul Gamblin added that the reef was comparable to a Ningaloo experience.

“For people who’ve had those bucket-list experiences at places like Ningaloo, it’s that kind of experience that you have at Scott Reef. It’s just the most extraordinary place – it’s still a healthy, resilient, incredibly complex ecosystem, which is stunningly beautiful as well,” he said.

“If Scott Reef was on the east coast, Woodside’s proposal to drill for oil and gas within 2km of the reef would not even be considered. Having spent time at Scott Reef, it is clear that the time of drilling for oil and gas at coral reefs is over.”

Environs Kimberley strategy director Martin Pritchard said any drilling could end up as catastrophe.

“We were right on the spot where Woodside wants to drill multiple oil and gas wells just 2km from Scott Reef and it’s clear that any oil spill there would be catastrophic. Drilling for gas under the coral reef will have massive impacts on marine life here and Woodside must be stopped. The community beat Woodside already at James Price Point, and we’re going to beat Woodside again and save Scott Reef.”

Woodside told The Sydney Morning Herald that it continued to work with the WA state Government and Commonwealth regulators to finalise the assessment process.

“While we are confident that initial referral documents, submitted more than five years ago, demonstrated our intent to manage environmental impacts and risks to an acceptable level, we have continued to collect scientific data relevant to the development area and monitor advances in global best practice environmental mitigations,” they said.

“In September 2024, Woodside provided further information to the state and Commonwealth regulators on the Browse to North West Shelf Project referral, including new scientific data and additional best practice mitigations to further demonstrate our commitment to avoid and minimise any potential environmental impacts from the proposed development.”

Watch the video HERE.

Scott Reef.