Protest at Bells opposes oil drilling in the Bight

LOCAL environmentalists are calling on the Surf Coast Shire to join opposition to the development of a deep-water oil field in the Great Australian Bight.

Norwegian energy company Equinor have plans to begin exploratory drilling in an area 327 kilometres off the coast of the Nullabor Plain.

Outdoor clothing company Patagonia has been running a “Big Oil Don’t Surf” campaign against the drilling, stating it has independent modelling showing that in the worst case, an oil spill in winter would spread along the South Australian and Victorian coasts, circumnavigate Tasmania, before making its way up the eastern seaboard.

“There would be oil on beaches for years at Cactus, Bells Beach, Shipstern Bluff and everywhere in between.”

A dozen councils in South Australia as well as Moyne Shire have formally opposed or passed statements of concern about the drilling proposal, and the Greater Torquay Alliance is urging the shire to take a stand for the local environment and economy.

“The Greater Torquay Alliance calls on the Surf Coast Shire to join the other councils in publicly stating their opposition to oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight because of the unacceptable risk to our marine environment and our way of life that rely on our beautiful coastline,” Greater Torquay Alliance president Andrew Cherubin said.

The Greater Torquay Alliance organised a photo shoot at Bells Beach on Sunday to show opposition to deep water oil drilling in the Bight, which was attended by independent candidate for South Barwon (and Greater Torquay Alliance member) Damien Cole and federal leader of the Australian Greens Richard Di Natale.

“I’ve grown up surfing Bells Beach and along the Great Ocean Road, and the thought of our coast being covered in oil is absolutely horrifying,” Mr Cole said.

“If something went wrong out there in the Bight, it would have catastrophic effects not only for surfing, but for tourism, fishing, and our whole way of life.

“With so little to be gained from this, I am concerned about the influence that donations to the big political parties may be playing in these plans.”