Surfrider to hold another session about seismic testing

THE Surfrider Foundation is holding a second information session this Saturday, July 29 about possible large-scale seismic testing to be conducted off the Victorian coast, following the release of an environmental plan for the proposal.

Multinational company TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company Pty Ltd (TGS) proposes to run the test across a 5.5 million hectare area of ocean.

It would involve airguns blasting sound into the ocean every 10 seconds.

Opponents to the the proposal – including Surfrider Foundation and Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch, who are hosting tomorow’s session – say the seismic testing will have a detrimental effect on marine life, the local fishing industry and the broader environment.

“We aim to raise awareness about this highly dangerous process which is the first step in exploring for gas in the oceans of our Otway Basin covering a 5.5 million hectare area from Cape Otway to the South Australian border and as far south as north-west coast of Tasmania,” Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch secretary Darren Noyes-Brown said.

“It includes prime blue whale feeding habitat, whale migration areas and southern rock lobster fishing grounds.”

He said the seismic testing involved blasting the seafloor with high-powered airguns measuring the echoes with tubes kilometres in length to map offshore oil and gas reserves.

“Sound waves louder than atomic bombs [are] blasted into the ocean every 10 seconds day and night for months on end.

“Marine life is displaced, injured and killed, people and communities are impacted [and it] facilitates the extraction of more fossil fuels, and subsequent carbon emissions.”

Originally submitted in September 2022, TGS’ environmetal plan to NOPSEMA (the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority) was released some time after the Surfrider Foundation’s first information session about the proposal, held in Torquay on June 14.

NOPSEMA’s website refers to the proposal as the Otway Basin three-dimensional multi-client marine seismic survey (3D MC MSS), and notes testing may start as early as October, pending regulatory approval.

“Ultimately the new data will provide improved confidence in mapping major geological units aiding in the identification and de-risking of petroleum prospectively across the Seismic Survey area,” the environmental plan states.

“They want to start blasting on October 1, 2023 and could occur for 200 days per year (with a maximum of 400 days total) until 2027,” Mr Noyes-Brown said.

“We’ve beaten similar proposals around Australia (#FightForTheBight and PEP11 off Sydney) and other communities are having similar wins and coastal communities are becoming aware of the dangers of seismic blasting so let’s giddy up and make some noise!”

The free information night will be held at the Barwon Heads Community Hall, 77 Hitchcock Avenue, Barwon Heads, tomorrow (Saturday, July 29) from 4pm for a 4.30pm start.

To reserve your seat, head to eventbrite.com.au/e/seismic-blasting-the-otways-again-tickets-667221205587

The Surfrider Foundation is also hosting a session, in association with OCEAN and the local fishing industry, in Apollo Bay at the Apollo Bay Community Hall on Sunday, July 30 from 3.30pm. Entry is $10 for adults and $5 for children (cash only).

It will include speakers, a Q&A panel, live music, refreshments and a showing of the award-winning film Sonic Sea.