Approval of gas drilling near Twelve Apostles sparks outrage

ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have expressed outrage over the state government’s approval of a project that plans to start gas production less than 10km from the Twelve Apostles.

The project, set to begin operations on June 30, aims to produce 160 petajoules of gas over the next 15 years.

Beach Energy’s Enterprise project will be the state’s first new gas extraction project since 2014.

OCEAN campaigner Mitch Pope said it was disappointing the project was going ahead.

“Three years ago in 2021, the International Energy Agency stated that there must be no new coal, oil, and gas projects if we’re to meet the government’s net zero targets and stay below 1.5 degrees of warming.

 

“Three years on we’re seeing an approval for gas drilling under the Port Campbell National Park and right near the iconic Twelve Apostles.

“We’re in a climate crisis, and the science is clear, there must be no new approvals for fossil fuel projects.”

He said the community was outraged by the approval.

“People don’t want to see a pristine part of our coastline threatened by profit-driven industrial corporations like Beach Energy.

“It’s 2024, why are we still putting our oceans, coastal environment, and climate under threat when we know we mustn’t be approving any more fossil fuel projects?”

Greens spokesperson Samantha Ratnam said the news was a tragedy for Port Campbell communities.

“Labor are choosing to ignore communities and First Nations groups who have blatantly said they don’t want these projects to go ahead.

“Instead they’re siding with a billionaire-owned fossil fuel company who wants to extract right next to such an iconic and precious place.”

Last week, Geelong Sustainability chief executive Dan Cowdell wrote to Minister for Climate Action, Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio to express deep concern and dismay regarding the approval of the gas extraction licence.

“The decision to approve new fossil fuel developments is at odds with the Government’s net zero policy directions and what our community is telling us they want,” the letter stated.

“It is imperative that urgent action is taken to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change, and to do this we need a rapid transition to renewable energy and phase out of fossil fuels.”

Beach Energy’s Enterprise project is part of a broader push for gas initiatives in Victoria’s south-west, which have raised concerns about the potential impact on marine ecosystems and the climate.

Other projects by Beach Energy, Conoco Phillips, CGG, and TGS are also pending approval, including a proposal for the largest 3D seismic blasting area in history.

Beach Energy did not respond to a request for comment.