Viva terminal decision imminent

A DECISION on Viva Energy’s planned floating gas terminal is now with Victorian Environment and Climate Action Minister Lily D’Ambrosio after she received a final advisory report on the project’s environmental impacts.

An independent advisory committee has finalised its report on the proposal’s Environment Effects Statement (EES), which the state government requires for an in-depth assessment of its pros and cons before an approval decision.

Ms D’Ambrosio will make the final call on the gas terminal after a restructure of ministerial roles during recent months.

The relevant legislation had previously been under the jurisdiction of the planning portfolio, which went to Lizzie Blandthorn in a June cabinet reshuffle, until the government tweaked administrative duties weeks later.

Premier Daniel Andrews in July gave joint responsibility for the Environment Effects Act – which covers the Viva proposal – to the Environment and Climate Action portfolio.

A statement from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) indicated Ms D’Ambrosio would consider the IAC report alongside Viva reports and public submissions, before issuing an assessment on the project’s environmental effects.

DELWP gave no indication about a timeline of the decision, including whether it would happen before the government enters caretaker mode on November 1, ahead of the November 26 election.

Viva’s proposal is for a floating storage and regasification unit just offshore from its Geelong Refinery that would import liquefied natural gas from tankers and transfer it back to Victoria’s transmission grid.

The IAC report is the culmination of the EES process that began in December 2020.

Viva Energy developed 12,000 pages of technical reports and assessments for the EES that it submitted to the state government and were released for public comment in February this year.

The six-week consultation attracted more than 2,000 submissions from a host of stakeholders, most of which were from community members rejecting the idea on grounds of environment and neighbourhood impacts.

Viva says its facility would help the state fill an expected shortfall in its gas supply in the coming years as Victoria transitions towards a renewable energy future.