Australian Conservation Foundation pulls court challenge to Woodside Energy’s Scarborough gas project

The Australian Conservation Foundation has apologised to its supporters after scrapping a Federal Court challenge to Woodside Energy’s $16 billion Scarborough gas project off WA’s north-west.

The ACF said the two-year-old action was pulled after it “became apparent that the case was unlikely to succeed”.

Woodside welcomed the decision, saying such litigation created “needless uncertainty” for business.

There was no immediate word on how the costs will be allocated.

The ACF launched its case through the Environmental Defenders Office in June 2022, seeking an injunction to stop offshore work on Scarborough, which is now nearly 70 per cent complete and approved by the Federal and WA Governments.

The environmental group said on Monday its decision to withdraw from the challenge was a reflection of “weak nature protection laws” that favoured miners and energy companies.

“Litigation is expensive and risky, and communities often come up against opponents with far greater resources,” it said.

“This all makes this incredibly complex and difficult work.

“It is disappointing that this case will not be heard in the Federal Court. And we offer our apologies to those who have supported us.”

Woodside expects to ship its first LNG from Scarborough in 2026, supplying markets in Asia.

“Litigation against energy projects like Scarborough is an ineffective way to pursue solutions to global climate and energy challenges,” Woodside chief executive Meg O’Neill said on Monday.

“Such approaches create needless uncertainty for businesses, communities and the people who depend on the energy these projects produce,” she said.