AFTER more than a year, the King Island Council has taken a formal position in opposition to oil and gas exploration and drilling in the waters off King Island.
At its September ordinary meeting, the motion was put and carried that the King Island Council opposes oil and gas drilling off the coast of the island and will write to the relevant state and federal ministers to advise them of the council’s position.
“King Island Council has made the decision at our September meeting to in-principle oppose gas exploration and drilling near our island,” Mayor Marcus Blackie said.
“This decision has been made with a view to protecting our pristine environment here on King Island and our brands which have become household names.
“Our reputation as a tourist drawcard and our legendary brands – like our cheese – are all underpinned by our cool climate and pristine environment.
“The King Island coastline and surrounding waterways are extremely volatile, we therefore have concerns about gas exploration and drilling particularly on our Western side where the prevailing winds and strong currents mostly come from, driven by the relentless roaring 40’s.
“Any spills, ruptures, or flotsam from rigs off to our west could be delivered onto our shoreline the same day.
“Bass Strait needs no introduction.
“Before anyone gets too excited this is not a blanket opposition against fossil fuels or gas in general.
“We know we require a diverse range of energy sources to power our economy here on King Island, we are big consumers of gas so we will require gas for another decade to come.
“This is an in-principal opposition to drilling activities close to King Island and the elevated environmental risk that represents,” Mr Blackie said.
The council debate acknowledged that many of the decisions, for example environmental approvals, are made by The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) Australia’s independent expert regulator for health and safety, structural (well) integrity and environmental management for offshore petroleum and greenhouse gas storage activities in Commonwealth waters, and in coastal waters where regulatory powers and functions have been conferred.
Oil and gas exploration acreage is released each year by the Federal government.
Companies can nominate and bid for these areas, under permit.
The council has historically met with the oil and gas companies to determine what if any economic benefit King Island could anticipate (or negotiate). So far there is only optimism and cordial relationships.
The council agreed that it is empowered to act in the best interests of this community, that the oil and gas companies do not say there is zero risk to the island, and it was argued that it is time to answer the question “What do you [Council] stand for?”
Mr Blackie said the overriding concern is that any oil and gas development off the coast of King Island places the island in a risk position whether this be from flotsam and jetsam or spills from vessels and rigs and this would cause both environmental and economic damage to brand and reputation.
King Island council has opposed drilling by Conoco Phillips – 3D Oil in their permitted leases to the west and north of King Island.
Multinational companies Schlumberger and TGS wants to conduct a 7.7 million hectares – larger than Tasmania – 3D seismic survey, 39 kilometres off the west coast which is designed to service multiple clients holding existing exploration titles and the collection of data from areas not yet designated by the Australian government for gas exploration, and the Beach Energy Offshore Gas Victoria project.
The Beach Energy Offshore Gas Victoria project organised a community meeting in the Currie town hall earlier this month to enable King Islanders to learn more about the OGV Project “which is considering a range of activity in Commonwealth waters across several phases.”
No one attended this meeting.
“…the project intends to operate in the offshore Otway and Bass basins. These phases include non-seismic seabed assessments, drilling three to eight exploration and appraisal wells, connection of new wells and removing suspended wells,” the company said.
The Otway Basin is west, and north-west of King Island and the Bass Basin includes all of King Island and extends to the north, northeast and east of the island.
The OGV project will require environment plans to be accepted by NOPSEMA before commencement of activities and must also demonstrate that consultations with persons or organisations whose functions, interests and activities may be affected by the activities in the Environment Plan (“relevant persons”), have been carried out in accordance with the regulations.
To find out more about the OGV Project 1800 797 011.community@beachenergy.com.au or visit beachenergy.com.au/ogv/