WA Mines Minister criticises protesters over fracking well 'vandalism'
Posted 12 minutes ago RELATED STORY: Investigation into fracking site damage after gas leak claims MAP: Broome 6725
West Australian Mines Minister Bill Marmion has criticised protesters suspected of being involved in vandalising a fracking gas well in the Kimberley.
Police are still investigating the incident that occurred last month at the Yullerroo 2 site, east of Broome.
Mr Marmion told Parliament a valve shaft was found to be bent and a small leak detected at the well.
He said only a heavy instrument like a sledgehammer could have caused the damage.
"[It] shows what lengths some people will go to stop proper exploration for gas and mining exploration in Western Australia, Mr Speaker," he said.
"It's okay for people to protest peacefully but this goes well beyond what the public and the standards of Western Australia [and] people would expect."
In January activists claimed dangerous levels of gas were leaking at the site.
The ABC obtained a video of a hand-held gas metre reading at the Yullerroo 2 site, about 70km east of Broome, showing what activists said was likely to be high levels of methane.
The drilling well was previously fracked in 2010 by Buru Energy.
The Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) sent safety inspectors to the site after the footage emerged but they did not detect any leaking gas.
