Terminal protest gains momentum

HUNDREDS of residents have marched through Geelong streets in protest of a floating gas terminal project planned for Corio Bay.

An estimated crowd of almost 400 gathered at Little Malop Street Mall on Saturday morning to take a public stand against Viva Energy’s proposal, which would expand the North Geelong refinery and allow it to accept and treat more natural gas from Australia and overseas to meet projected future demand.

The protest crowd included Jenny Acopian, a fifth-generation Geelong resident in her 70s, who attended her first ever rally to stand against the proposal.

“I can’t believe they are considering it, on no score does it make sense; economics, safety or environmentally,” she said.

 

 

Meanwhile, local environment groups are encouraging concerned residents to make their submission on environmental reports on the proposal that are currently on exhibition, and which will soon go under state government scrutiny.

Geelong Renewables Not Gas is hosting a second webinar tonight, April 7, to walk people through the mammoth 13,000-page document and provide advice on how to make public submissions to address their concerns.

The Environmental Effects Statement process closes on Monday, April 11.