The $25 billion Wheatstone liquefied natural gas (LNG) project off the north-west coast has passed its final regulatory hurdle, paving the way for a final investment decision.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke granted approval today for the project, three weeks after it gained state government environmental approval.
The regulatory passage follows rapid progress on the commercial front, with project operator Chevron and its equity partners signing major gas sales agreements over the past two months.
Chevron has also appointed key contractors, with engineering firm Bechtel winning the EPC contract for the LNG plant, to be built near Onslow.
The federal approval comes with 70 conditions; the strictest conditions are intended to help protect threatened and migratory species such as dugongs, marine turtles, sawfish, dolphins and whales, and the marine environment.
The strictest conditions are intended to help protect threatened and migratory species such as dugongs, marine turtles, sawfish, dolphins and whales, and the marine environment.
"Chevron will be required to submit for my approval a range of plans and programs detailing how the project impacts on protected matters will be minimised," Mr Burke said in a statement.
"For example, dredging operations will be optimised to protect dugong, marine turtles and their habitat, and dredging can only take place outside the coral-spawning period."
Seismic activities must accord with exclusion zones, avoidance measures and `soft start' procedures, Mr Burke said.
Cheveron must also develop a program to manage discharge from both onshore and offshore infrastructure and accommodation facilities.
The project, south west of Onslow in the Pilbara region, gained final environmental approval from the WA government last month.
A final investment decision to proceed with the project is expected later this year.
Wheatstone is a joint venture between Chevron (73.6 per cent), Apache (13 per cent), Kuwait Foreign Petroleum Exploration Company (7.0 per cent) and Royal Dutch Shell (6.4 per cent).
