WA oil spill 'one of Australia's worst'

12:08 AM Tue 15 Sep 2009 GMT

'The impact on nature and the WA coast is yet to be felt.' .

An oil spill in the Timor Sea off Western Australia's northern coast is shaping as one of the nation's worst, according to scientists and green groups.

The incident occurred at the West Atlas mobile offshore drilling unit, 250 kilometres north of Truscott, and 690 kilometres west of Darwin, last Friday morning.

The leak could take eight weeks to cap and has already caused a slick estimated to be 14 kilometres long and 30 metres wide.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, Tracey Jiggins, says dispersant sprayed on the light crude oil is working. 'It is a major operation, so I'd certainly say it is one of the most serious spills that we've had in recent years.'

She says the authority will decide later today whether the slick needs to be sprayed again today to contain its size, and that assessment will be done every day.

Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett says the oil spill will not have any implications for the Gorgon gas project off Western Australia's Pilbara.

He has given approval for the $50 billion project on the A-class reserve of Barrow Island.

Mr Garrett says the Gorgon proposal has been closely assessed by both the Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments before approval.

Some green groups say the accident occurred in a fragile conservation area and highlights the need for better emergency response plans at oil and gas sites.

by Jeni Bone

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WA oil spill 'one of Australia's worst'

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