Protestors look to make another splash on Saturday

THIS Saturday (November 23), people will again gather at Torquay’s Cosy Corner to protest Norwegian oil company Equinor’s plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

The event will be one of more than 50 held both nationally and internationally as part of Fight for the Bight International Day of Action.

Surfrider Foundation ambassador Damien Cole said he hoped the protests would help dissuade Equinor from going ahead with their plans.

“This is an international day of action to demonstrate to Equinor the love Australians have for their coastlines and that Equinor will never have the approval of the Australian people.”

Projections have shown an oil spill from Equinor’s planned drilling site would have the potential to harm much of Australia’s southern coast.

Equinor states it will only go ahead with the drilling if they believe it to be safe.

“For more than 40 years we have drilled safely on the Norwegian continental shelf and around the world. We will bring the same care and expertise to our operations in Australia.

“We will only carry out our planned operations if we can do them safely and with the approval of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).”

NOPSEMA has received a petition with more than 30,000 signatures asking it to oppose Equinor’s drilling.

The protest on Saturday will begin at 11am and will see people bring their own watercrafts such as surfboards, bodyboards, sea kayaks to take to the water.