The towns of Karratha and Dampier, which fringe the coast of the Pilbara in Western Australia’s north west, were set up in the 1960s to service massive iron ore mines that powered the economic growth of that period.

The construction of Dampier, between 1966–68, levelled million-year-old rocks that contain ancient engravings — petroglyphs — expressing First Nations spiritual beliefs and that were carved about 50,000 years ago.

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First Nations people were not consulted about the township’s construction; they were not considered citizens.

Today, Woodside Energy’s industrial footprint and acidic fumes loom large over the Murujuga (Burrup) Peninsula.

But when the federal environment minister Murray Watt gave his provisional green light to Woodside’s North West Shelf gas expansion plan on May 28, there was a muted response from the Karratha community.

Health worker Chris Jenkins, who has lived in Karratha for two and a half years, told Green Left that Woodside and Rio Tinto have spent up big on convincing locals that they cannot do without it.

“Karratha was always a white settlement. It began as a mining camp and developed into a township where most people are employed by mining corporations, or work in related areas.

“Woodside and Rio Tinto sponsor everything, including frontline health services, and community groups receive grants from them. Given the lack of........

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