Plans advance for drilling off the NSW Central Coast
The massive methane gas field stretching from offshore Sydney to Newcastle looks set to be exploited after all, with reports that the gas industry has made “good progress” in applying for test drilling.
The PEP11 gas field had a tumultuous start, when former Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned its development under the powers given to him by one of his dodgy extra ministries.
But in a Federal Court ruling in February 2023, which was supported by the current government, a judge ruled that: “a fair-minded observer would have reasonably apprehended that the former Prime Minister of Australia the Hon Scott Morrison MP, as a member of the Joint Authority, did not bring a fair mind to determine Asset Energy’s application”.
As a result, Advent Energy, and Bounty Oil and Gas Company have been talking to the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA), asking them if they can resume test drilling.
Reports say they have made good progress with the regulator.
According to reports supported by BPH, the company has continued to undertake environmental assessments and has awarded contracts for drilling infrastructure.
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“There are and will be offshore areas where Wind, Petroleum and Carbon Sequestration activities will overlap, Advent believes a holistic approach should and will be taken to ensure energy is produced in an optimal manner.
The North Sea is an example of different energy systems co existing which demonstrates that offshore wind and gas are compatible and are complimentary.”
Petroleum exploration permit 11 (PEP 11): Recent developments
This paper provides some background information on PEP 11 and an overview of the current regulatory framework. The body of the paper is a timeline of key regulatory and parliamentary developments leading up to an inquiry into the Minerals Legislation Amendment (Offshore Drilling and Associated Infrastructure Prohibition) Bill 2023
Opposition to PEP11
Friends of the Earth Offshore Fossil Gas Campaigner, Jeff Waters, said PEP11 was an environmental disaster waiting to happen on many levels.
“It is disturbing to think that, in spite of all of the evidence of a climate catastrophe, Australians are willing to unlock yet another vast fossil fuel reserve,” Jeff Waters said.
“The Federal Government is clearly allowing PEP11 to quietly proceed.”
“Allowing this to go ahead will simply cancel out every new carbon initiative the government is implementing,” he said.
“Then there is the seismic blasting that will need to take place for the development of the field — repetitive blasts of noise as loud as an atomic bomb — which will kill or disorient sea life and render whales and dolphins deaf.”
“What will Migaloo think when the annual whale migration is disturbed?”
Waters also said that any oil spill would result in the destruction of a huge section of the NSW coastline.
“Beaches from Port Macquarie to Port Kembla could be impacted, and it’s hard to remove oil from the golden sands of Bondi or Manly Beach,” he said.
NSW Gas Exploration will disrupt whale migration
Queensland’s spectacular annual whale migration will be disrupted if the Federal Government allows fossil gas exploration off the NSW coast.
Whales, other sea life and the climate will be the big losers if the Federal Resources Minister, Madeleine King, allows fossil methane gas exploration or extraction off the coast of North Sydney and the NSW Central Coast.
Friends of the Earth Australia is imploring the government not to let it go ahead, as the seismic blasting used in the exploration process will disrupt the beloved east coast whale migration route and could render the aquatic mammals deaf, resulting in their deaths.
The statement comes after reports that the government has moved to overturn Scott Morrison’s ban on fossil methane gas development in the PEP11 exploration lease area.
Friends of the Earth Australia’s Offshore Fossil Gas Campaigner, Jeff Waters, said:
“Allowing fossil methane gas exploration or extraction in the busy east coast whale migration route is absolute madness”
“How can the government even be considering disrupting such an important area?”
“Queensland’s spectacular annual whale migration will be drastically disrupted.”
“The constant, massive explosions in the sea that will be needed to survey the site will not only scare whales away from this important corridor, but it has also been shown to send aquatic mammals deaf, guaranteeing their deaths.”
“Seismic blasting is also known to kill other sea life, including krill, which is an important food source for fish and other wildlife”
“What would Migaloo say about this?”
“And it’s a complete waste because by the time the exploration takes place, the permits are issued, and the fossil fuel companies establish offshore platforms, renewable energy would have made methane gas quite redundant.”
“They call methane ‘natural gas,’ and this will naturally harm whales, it will naturally kill wildlife, and it will naturally worsen global warming”
Friends of the Earth Australia’s Offshore Fossil Gas Campaigner, Jeff Waters, said.
NSW Government must stand up to bullies in gas industry to stop unacceptable coastal gas exploration
The Federal Government has caved into demands from gas corporations to resume plans for seismic testing across 4574 square kilometres of NSW coastline under Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP11).
The decision by the Federal Government to stop fighting against the exploration for gas just 50km from the NSW coastline means the NSW Government must recommit to opposing PEP 11 and work with their federal colleagues to resolve this dangerous gas plan once and for all.
Greens MP and spokesperson for mining, coal and gas, Sue Higginson, said
“PEP 11 is an unreasonable and dangerous project that is universally opposed by communities from Sydney’s Northern Beaches through to Newcastle. The NSW Government needs to guarantee that they will do everything in their power to stop these gas bullies from ruining our marine environment, coastlines and our climate,
“The gas companies are threatening NSW and Australia with a gas shortage that they have created by exporting domestic gas overseas for massive profits. This project will do nothing to alleviate the energy crisis and if the gas is extracted and burnt, it will become a primary driver of worsening climate change disasters.
“Matt Kean needs to contact the Federal Resources Minister and demand that the decision to end this seismic testing is re-made in no uncertain terms so that NSW residents are released from this cycle of bullying by gas corporations,
“Communities that are most at risk from this project come from across the political spectrum and it is just as serious for the NSW Liberals to stand up for the Northern Beaches as it is for Federal Labor to protect their interests in Newcastle,
“The Greens have a clear and strong commitment at both state and federal levels that there must be no new coal or gas development and fossil fuel extraction and burning must come to an end. This commitment is supported by the science of climate change and the economics of much cheaper renewable technologies. The community backs and end to gas and governments need to listen to what is good for Australia and NSW,
“The gas led recovery to COVID was a scam perpetrated against Australia by gas corporations and the Federal Government needs to work with NSW to end PEP 11 and deny the bullies in the gas industry any more power”
Ms Higginson said.
Surfers for Climate call on Government to stop PEP-11 (again)
February 3, 2023 – Following the announcement that the federal government and Asset Energy and Bounty Oil & Gas agreed to nullify the previous Government’s position to stop the PEP-11 offshore gas drilling project, Surfers for Climate has called for the permit to be rejected… again.
Belinda Baggs, co-founder of Surfers for Climate which campaigned tirelessly against PEP-11 and won their campaign under the previous government, said:
“We thought that PEP-11 was behind us, but because of a broken political process, it looks like once again we need to make it clear that the Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle waters are no place for a gas field.
The political process was wrong, but the principle was and still is right – right for our beaches, our communities, local economies, and our planet. We are confident the current federal Labor government will see sense and reject the PEP-11 permit again.”
Belinda Baggs, co-founder of Surfers for Climate
PEP-11 is a 4500 square kilometre zone on the horizon off Australia’s most populous coastline. The area’s pristine ocean is home to countless marine animals, including migrating whales, thriving underwater ecosystems and many of our country’s most beloved surfing breaks.
Drilling under the sea risks both gas leakage in our waters and the potential for an oil spill (oil is often present where there is gas) that risks catastrophic harm to the local environment.
Locals and community groups from the region including Save our Coast, and Surfrider have been campaigning against the drilling project, and Surfers For Climate stands with them in opposition to PEP-11.
No Oil exploration is planned as it is a gas field. It is BPH not BHP , Also BPH has no controlling stake in Bounty Oil whatsoever!