The WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval of the Valhalla Gas Exploration Appraisal Program, a major fracking project that could result in 20 exploration and appraisal wells being drilled in the Canning Basin in the state’s northwest. 

The EPA’s report is open for a public appeal period, which closes on 10 February 2026.  

This blog takes you through: 

  • an overview of the proposal; 
  • a summary of relevant State and federal assessment processes; 
  • details of the EPA’s report; and 
  • the process for appeals. 

For more information on the merits appeal process and what to include in an appeal, please see EDO’s factsheet on Challenging Decisions in WA – Merits Review under the Environmental Protection Act 1986. 

The Valhalla Proposal 

The Valhalla Gas Exploration and Appraisal Program (Valhalla Proposal) proposes the construction of up to 20 fracking wells in the Kimberley region of WA to explore and appraise potential oil and gas resources. If commercially viable resources are identified, the proponent, Bennett Resources, [1] intends to seek additional approvals for a full-scale development. 

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique for extracting oil and gas from rock formations deep underground. It involves drilling wells and pumping water and chemicals under high pressure to crack the rock and release the materials inside. 

The use of fracking is a key element of the Valhalla Proposal and its environmental impacts have been a significant point of public concern. [2] If the Valhalla Proposal goes ahead, it will be the first fracking project in WA since the WA Government lifted its moratorium on fracking in 2019. 

State and federal assessment processes 

For the Valhalla Proposal to proceed, Bennett Resources needs approval under state and federal environmental laws.  

The EPA’s report forms part of the WA Government’s assessment of the Valhalla Proposal under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) (EP Act). Documents relevant to this assessment process are available from the EPA’s website: Valhalla Gas Exploration and Appraisal Program. 

The Valhalla Proposal is also being considered by the Australian Government under federal environmental laws, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act): see EPBC Act Public Portal.  

In December 2025, the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Unconventional Gas Development and Large Coal Mining Development (IESC) released advice about the federal assessment of the Valhalla Proposal, stating the information provided by the proponent “is not sufficient to assess the project’s potential impacts on surface and groundwater resources and water-related assets”.  

The IESC identified a range of additional work needed to understand and address potential impacts of the Proposal.  

The EPA’s report and the current appeals process is separate from the EPBC Act assessment, but relevant information such as the IESC advice can be raised within an appeal. 

The EPA’s report 

In its report on the Valhalla Proposal, the EPA recommends that the proposal may be implemented, subject to conditions outlined in Appendix A of the report. 

The EPA identified the “key environmental factors” that may be impacted by the Valhalla Proposal, being: 

  • inland waters, including the Martuwarra Fitzroy River and its tributaries; 
  • groundwater and its associated cultural, ecological and socioeconomic values; 
  • terrestrial fauna, particularly the greater bilby and its habitat; 
  • the West Kimberley National Heritage Place and its inherent ecological and social values;  
  • social surroundings, including Aboriginal cultural heritage sites and areas of cultural significance, including the Martuwarra Fitzroy River; and 
  • impacts related to greenhouse gas emissions. 

The EPA determined that its recommendations, combined with regulation by WA Government bodies, will appropriately manage impacts of the Valhalla Proposal on each of these factors, and the implementation of the proposal is likely to be consistent with the EPA’s objectives for each of these factors, which are outlined in its Statement of Environmental Principles, Factors and Objectives. 

Appeals process 

Under the EP Act, any person that “disagrees with” the content of, or any recommendation in, the EPA’s report may lodge an appeal against the report. [3] 

What do I include in an appeal? 

An appeal against the EPA’s report should focus on whether the EPA based its findings on the best available evidence, and if the findings are appropriate with regard to the specific circumstances of the Valhalla Proposal and the EPA’s assessment. 

Your appeal must: [4] 

  • Include your name and address;  
  • Identify the proposal and proponent; 
  • Describe the decision in the EPA’s report, and the part of the decision being appealed (i.e., what part of the EPA’s report do you disagree with? Specify the particular finding or recommended condition.); 
  • Outline your grounds of appeal, being the reasons why you are challenging the EPA’s report. In merits appeals, there is also a broad scope to provide any supporting facts and evidence; and 
  • Identify the outcome you are seeking (e.g., do you want the EPA to restart the assessment; or do you want to see particular conditions added or changed?). 

It’s useful to provide detail and supporting evidence as early as possible in your appeal. While you are entitled to procedural fairness and the opportunity to have your position heard in the appeal, there is not an unlimited timeframe for submitting information to the process. 

Where relevant, you may want to include in your appeal: 

  • References to provisions of the EP Act, including those relating to the purpose of the EPA’s report or the objectives and functions of the EPA; [5] 
  • Any information you think is relevant to the Appeals Convenor’s consideration, even if it was not considered by the EPA in its assessment. This could include scientific materials, reports, or any other resources about the values of the environment that could be impacted by the proposal; 
  • Explanations of any flaws you have identified and any better bases for the EPA’s decision making (e.g., because you think the proper application of the policies and guidance referred to by the EPA should yield different outcomes, or you think the policies and guidance relied on by the EPA aren’t correct or useful); and 
  • Any inconsistencies you have identified between the EPA’s report and other EPA reports, or other WA Government statements or decisions. 

How do I lodge an appeal? 

Appeals are lodged through the Office of the Appeals Convenor. You can lodge an appeal by: 

  • using the form on the office’s website;  
  • sending your appeal by post or delivering it by hand to the office, addressed to the WA Minister for the Environment. 

A fee of $10 is usually required for lodging an appeal against an EPA report. The minister may reduce, waive or refund the whole or part of an appeal fee, if a successful application is made in writing to the minister (via the Appeals Convenor). [6] If you are seeking a fee waiver, you will not be able to use the online form (which requires a BPoint payment to be lodged). 

It is absolutely essential that you properly lodge your appeal before the deadline of 10 February 2026. This date is set by law with no scope for extensions of time or acceptance of late appeals. 

What happens once the appeals period has closed? 

Once the appeal period has closed, the Appeals Convenor will investigate any appeals that have been lodged.  

There is no timeframe in which the Appeals Convenor is required to complete the investigation – it depends on the individual circumstances. 

The Appeals Convenor ultimately provides a report to the Minister for Environment with their findings and recommendations on the appeals, with the minister making a final determination on whether to uphold or dismiss appeals. The determination and the Appeals Convenor’s report are made available on the Office of the Appeals Convenor’s website. The office will also contact appellants when the determination has been made. 

If you need personalised advice on your appeal, you can seek our assistance via our online enquiry form: Apply for free legal advice – Environmental Defenders Office. 

References  

[1] Bennett Resources is a subsidiary of Black Mountain Energy.  

[2] EPA’s report, pp 4, 18.  

[3] EP Act, s 100(1).  

[4] Environmental Protection Regulations 1987 (WA) (EP Regulations), reg 7(1).  

[5]  Relevant provisions of the EP Act might include those regarding the purpose of the Act to protect the WA environment (s 4A); the principles of ecologically sustainable development (s 4A); and the EPA’s objective to protect the environment and prevent, control and abate pollution and environmental harm (s 15).  

[6] EP Regulations, reg 7(2).