Widespread protests have followed a plan by the oil and gas giant to build the LNG plant because it would require moving 165 historic indigenous rock carvings to make way for the development.

But despite the opposition, AAP yesterday reported that contractor BGC has begun preliminary site preparation work for LNG storage tanks at the plant.

The work is expected to include fencing, road access and relocating cultural heritage material over the first half of 2007, it said.

AAP also quoted a Woodside spokeswoman saying the rock art relocation would begin in two to three weeks, depending on the progress of other work.

The news spurred Australian Greens Senator Rachel Siewert to say Woodside and the Howard Government would “go down in the history books as vandals” for allowing the destruction of the rock art to go ahead.

“Woodside have not even made the final decision to commit to the project, and reportedly will not be making this decision until later in the year – yet they are still proceeding with initial site works,” Siewert said.

“I simply cannot understand why the Federal Government is not requiring Woodside to co-locate the plant just a couple of hundred metres up the road – thereby enabling the development to proceed and saving the rock art.

“Our failure to protect our unique Indigenous heritage is an international shame.”

Last month, Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell rejected an emergency application to heritage list the site, saying it could obstruct the development of the Australian gas industry.

The Pluto project is estimated to cost between $6 billion and $10 billion and is scheduled to begin supplying LNG to customers Kansai Electric and Tokyo Gas by the end of 2010.