The northern Perth basin, a geological formation underlying the Mid West and Wheatbelt of WA, has been identified by the gas industry as a priority target for exploitation. With its 271,401 petajoules of potential unconventional gas under 31 petroleum and exploration licences, there is interest from a host of companies, both local and international.  

Locals who will be impacted by the Waitsia Gas Project Stage 2 are outraged after Western Australia Environment Minister Stephen Dawson formally approved the polluting project today (February 1). Farmer Rod Copeland said the McGowan Government was ignoring opposition to projects like Waitsia 2 because it was arrogantly confident it would be re-elected thanks to its Covid-19 response.