Offshore gas exploration greenlit but further blasting halted

THE federal government announced this week that it is finalising four new permits for offshore resource exploration in the Otway Basin.

The permits are for exploration and do not cover extraction, which is a separate process the companies must undertake.

 

 

In a win for community members opposed to seismic blasting, none of the permits will allow seismic blasting.

The government’s expectation is that all exploration will be conducted through desktop research.

 

 

This newspaper has learned Minister for Resources Madeline King excluded new seismic surveying (also known as seismic blasting) from all permits, following community concerns raised by Corangamite federal member Libby Coker.

Companies will instead be required to reprocess existing seismic data.

“After much advocacy on behalf of my communities, no new seismic surveying will occur as part of these permits,” Ms Coker said.

“This is a win for our coastal communities, but of course, we understand there is more to do.”

The Surf Coast Times understands nine permits in total are being finalised for industry, but the announcement lacked clear details.

 

 

Local groups Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast branch and Otway Coastal Environment Action Network (OCEAN) have been campaigning against a proposed TGS seismic blasting mega-project in the Otway Basin that they say will devastate the marine environment and fisheries.

 

 

The community’s efforts have contributed to the project being delayed by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), which is reviewing the environmental plans due to serious concerns, including those raised about the consultation process and the impact on fisheries and the environment.”

 

 

Surfrider Foundation Surf Coast Branch secretary Darren Noyes-Brown said blasting in some form had been occurring for two decades, going largely unnoticed.

“During that time, members of parliament responsible for approving these activities have been led to believe that the impacts of seismic blasting can be effectively mitigated but the science now tells us that is not true,” Mr Noyes-Brown said.

 

 

In addition to the gas exploration permits, 10 permits have been finalised for carbon capture and storage exploration.

Minister King said as ageing coal generation comes offline in coming years, gas will continue to be needed to firm renewable energy generation and as a backup during peak energy use periods.

“Gas is critical for the transition. But it will be a diminishing proportion of our energy mix to 2050 as other storage technologies come online,” King said.

 

 

Australian Marine Conservation Society oil and gas campaign manager Louise Morris expressed her concerns about the announcement.

“These permits for new gas and carbon dumping exploration in the waters between Victoria and Tasmania are a smack in the face to the tens of thousands of Australians who oppose the seismic blasting and test drilling proposals in the Otway Basin,” Ms Morris said.

“These permits fly in the face of a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. It just does not pass the pub, or climate, test.”

“The Albanese Government should not be handing out permits for dumping carbon in our ocean when it is being used to prolong the life of the fossil fuel industry.”