Ceduna welcomes Great Australian Bight drilling economic boost

Oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight would provide a significant economic boost for the Ceduna community, the local mayor says, reviving the town’s mothballed $10 million helicopter terminal.

Ceduna Mayor Perry Will, Equinor’s head of exploration in Australia Camilla Aamodt and Equinor country manager - Australia, Jone Stangeland at Ceduna. Picture: Supplied

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Oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight would provide a significant economic boost for the Ceduna community, the local mayor says, reviving the town’s mothballed $10 million helicopter terminal.

Equinor plans to begin drilling for oil in The Bight from late 2020, after releasing its environment plan for public consultation.

If the plan is approved by federal regulator NOPSEMA, the Norwegian company would use Ceduna’s airport to fly staff to and from a drill site about 400km southwest of the town.

Equinor estimates that drilling its first well at the site, which would take up to 60 days, will generate about $1 million of economic activity in Ceduna.

If the company finds oil, it would lead the way to a much longer-term operation in the area.

Ceduna Council owns the airport, but it has sat unused since BP abandoned its plans to drill in the area in 2016.

Mayor Perry Will said local businesses such as shops and accommodation centres would benefit from the extra workers in the region.

He believed the majority of the community was supportive of oil exploration.

“Most I have spoken to have said it’s about time this project happens,” Mr Perry said.

“It’s been talked about for four or five years.

“There’s a small group of people here that you won’t ever please — it doesn’t matter what you do.”

Equinor met with Mr Will in Ceduna this week.

The company’s country manager for Australia, Jone Stangeland, said up to 150 people would work on the project when drilling began.

Equinor hoped to get its environment plan approved this year, and would then start procurement activities before drilling could start.

“We’re very excited … and we of course hope we’ll find oil or gas when we drill the well,” Mr Strangeland said.

An Equinor oil rig. Picture: Supplied

“If it’s a success then we’ll appraise the area to see how big the discovery is.”

Equinor head of exploration in Australia, Camilla Aamodt, expected a flurry of interest if the team struck oil.

“Other companies will be interested in looking in this area — how many of course will depend on what we find,” she said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said her party would continue to fight the project and push for The Bight to be World Heritage-listed.

She said the plans would risk South Australia’s tourism and fishing industries.

“We back our tens of thousands of jobs in tourism and fisheries, and our beautiful Kangaroo Island over big oil any day,” Ms Hanson-Young said.

“At a time when we know we must transition away from fossil fuels to arrest climate change, the costs of opening up a new oilfield to the planet are too great.

“Foreign profits cannot be put before people and the environment.”

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