Western Australia's environmental watchdog has given the green light to a controversial hydraulic fracturing operation in the state's remote north, overriding substantial community concern.
Regulator Backs Exploration Despite Opposition
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) announced on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, its approval for Bennett Resources to drill up to 20 exploration and appraisal wells using fracking technology. The company is a subsidiary of the American firm Black Mountain Energy.
EPA Chair Darren Walsh stated the authority was convinced the project could proceed safely under strict environmental conditions. He emphasised that the recommended safeguards, combined with existing regulatory oversight, would ensure any unexpected impacts are detected early and prevented.
Project Focus and Future Hurdles
The approved campaign centres on the Valhalla gas project, situated approximately 120 kilometres south-east of Derby in the West Kimberley region. The EPA's decision, however, comes with a major caveat.
This approval covers only the exploration and appraisal phase. Should Bennett Resources discover commercially viable gas reserves, it must navigate a completely new and separate approval process to gain permission for full-scale production.
Significant Public Discontent Acknowledged
The regulator's report openly acknowledged "significant" public concern regarding the proposed fracking activities. This sentiment has been visibly demonstrated in the past, including protests in Broome against Black Mountain Energy back in 2024.
The decision places the EPA's assessment of manageable environmental risk against ongoing community and environmental group apprehensions about the potential impacts of fracking on the Kimberley's sensitive ecosystems and water resources.
