Community to rally against gas terminal

AS A DECISION from the Planning Minister on Viva Energy’s proposed floating gas terminal nears, community opponents are set to gather this weekend to again voice their concerns about the project.

The protest will take place this Sunday, February 23 between 12 noon and 2.30pm at Moorpanyal Park in North Shore, and will include live music, guest speakers and a picnic.

Geelong Sustainability chief executive officer Jane Spence said the community was calling for decisive action to protect the community and environment and ensure a sustainable future for all.

“This is a significant opportunity to send a powerful message to the Minister for Planning that our community does not want this disastrous project in its backyard.

“We’ll form a massive human sign in the park, visible from the air, symbolising our united opposition to this terminal.”

The protest follows concerns from Ports Victoria, revealed during a Victorian inquiry into the project that concluded last month that Viva Energy had still not made sufficient progress on navigation, mooring and emergency departure risk assessments for the project.

Opponents to the project have said the issues raised by Ports Victoria serve to validate the community’s ongoing concerns about the safety of the gas terminal, as well as its potential impacts on the bay’s marine life and recreational use.

A Viva Energy spokesperson said the organisation had, over the past four years, engaged in a comprehensive environmental approvals process to identify and address safety and environmental concerns.

“It is typical for a proposed project at this stage to have some further work to complete. Viva Energy is actively working with Ports Victoria and other regulatory authorities to resolve these matters.

“We are committed to ensuring the safe navigation and mooring of LNG vessels and have already agreed with Ports Victoria on a comprehensive scope of work for completion in the coming months, building on previous marine navigation work for the project.”

To be located in Corio Bay, the project would see a floating storage and regasification unit installed next to Viva Energy’s existing refinery, which would store and convert LNG back into natural gas, while visiting carriers will transport LNG from other parts of Australia and overseas into the bay.

The project has been billed by proponents as key to mitigating a looming gas shortfall.

“The gas terminal will bring important new skills, economic activity and opportunities to Geelong, including more than 150 construction job and 50 to 70 permanent positions,” the Viva Energy spokesperson said.

“By supporting a secure supply of gas, households will continue to have the energy they need and industries that rely on gas of their operations will continue to provide jobs and economic benefit to the state.”