TGS withdraws seismic blasting plan for Otway basin

A MUCH-criticised plan to carry out seismic blasting in the Otway Basin has been sunk, with proponents TGS officially withdrawing the proposal today (Thursday, September 26).

Data firm TGS and energy company SLB were seeking a Special Prospecting Authority permit to conduct seismic surveying, widely known as seismic blasting and a first step in oil and gas exploration, in an area located off the coast of south-west Victoria.

A decision on the proposal’s Environment Plan was originally expected to be made on or about August 15, but was stalled twice in recent months by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

Community opposition to the proposal and its potential impact on marine life has been strong from the start, with public events drawing crowds of thousands, and NOPSEMA receiving more than 30,000 public submissions about the TGS-SLB plan.

Earlier today, TGS released an update on the proposal, stating: “With competing global priorities, TGS have decided not to proceed with the Otway 3D Multi-client Marine Seismic Survey Environment Plan at this time. We have notified NOPSEMA of this decision, withdrawing the current Environment Plan from NOPSEMA assessment.”

Australian Marine Conservation Society oil and gas campaign manager Louise Morris said Australians had rejected the proposal.

“Seismic blasting is deadly for marine life and can impact all levels of the food chain, from its very foundations, killing zooplankton more than a kilometre away, to deafening whales and driving them away from their feeding and breeding grounds.

“Seismic blasting damages other marine life, too, including killing scallops and impacting the immune systems of lobsters.

“The TGS seismic blasting proposal threatened endangered species such as the pygmy blue whale, and the Zeehan Commonwealth marine park.

“We cannot allow more oil and gas industrialisation in Australia’s south-east seas, where marine life is already experiencing multiple threats including climate change, with the waters there warming three to four times the global average and currently enduring a severe marine heatwave.”

Mitch Pope, campaign manager for the OCEAN group, was elated at the project’s withdrawal.

“We’re absolutely over the moon to hear the news that TGS has withdrawn their project for seismic blasting,” he said.

“This once again shows that when people and communities come together, we can make a real difference, and that’s what we’ve done.

“Every single person who has been to a March, rally, paddle out, written to their MP, or been part of the campaign in any way has helped keep TGS out of the southern ocean, and has been part of this win.

“If it wasn’t for the power of community, TGS would be out there seismic blasting right now, but they’re not, because we have kept them out.”

Victorian Greens Senator Steph Hodgins-May is coincidentally visiting Geelong and the Surf Coast today to discuss the issue.

“The Greens, together with local communities, environmentalists, First Nations groups, have been fighting this gas exploration proposal at every step of the way – and today we won,” she said.

“Unfortunately, there are still more than a dozen gas projects being planned across Victoria. It’s simple – no new coal and gas in a climate crisis.”

“The Greens will continue to work alongside communities for an end to all new coal and gas exploration and extraction.”

“Our state’s oceans are already fragile. Seismic blasting, whereby high-pressure air guns penetrate consistent loud sounds into the sea bed over months, will further risk our precious marine life, including migratory whales, zooplankton and shellfish.

“More seismic blasting off the coast of Victoria would be an environmental disaster – threatening our marine biodiversity and the livelihoods that depend on our oceans.”

Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker welcomed the withdrawal.

“This decision is testament to the amazing groundswell of community advocacy across our region,” she said.

“Congratulations to all community members who raised their voices and attended the Paddle Out in Torquay, the march through Ocean Grove, and the many events that occurred along our coastline.
“You came to me raising concerns about the proponent’s consultation, I acted on your concerns and NOPSEMA did listen.

“This is democracy in action. This is coastal communities working together to protect our marine environment.”