Controversial seismic testing for the Great Australian Bight moves closer
CONTROVERSIAL plans to undertake seismic testing in the Great Australian Bight could receive final approval within weeks – but opponents say the resources company’s third bid should also fail.
CONTROVERSIAL plans to undertake seismic testing in the Great Australian Bight could receive final approval within weeks.
But the plans have come under fire from opponents who say the testing, to determine the area’s viability for drilling, will put at risk the tourism reputation of nearby Kangaroo Island.
Seismic testing is a method of searching for oil and gas reserves using blasts of sound. They penetrate the ocean floor, relaying data about what lies beneath to the surface.
Norwegian-owned company PGS Australia has submitted environmental plans to undertake testing in The Bight over a 10-week period from March next year.
The latest plan, submitted to federal oil and gas exploration watchdog, NOPSEMA, is the company’s third attempt at securing approval since February 2017.
Australian Greens environment spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young told The Advertiser her party would move in the Senate on Monday to establish a senate inquiry into seismic testing. “We don’t want dangerous blasting off Kangaroo Island and we don’t want drilling in our Bight,” Senator Hanson-Young said.
“This multinational company has already had two failed applications to constantly send seismic blasts into our pristine ocean. It’s time this was stopped for good.”
“Kangaroo Island is the jewel in our tourism crown. It’s surrounding waters are a fascinating ecosystem of marine and bird life. It must be protected.”
The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association South Australia director Matthew Doman said seismic testing has been used for decades in Australian waters with no evidence of harm to the marine environment.
“Seismic surveying is a low-risk, well understood technology that is the first step in understanding what lies beneath the ocean floor,” he said.
“Fisheries in regions that host oil and gas activities continue to be some of the most productive in Australia.”
PGS plans to undertake its testing 51km from Cape Carnot, Eyre Peninsula, 90km west of Kangaroo Island and approximately 80km south-south west of Port Lincoln.
The company did not return The Advertiser’s calls for comment.
Opponents, conservationists and a number of local councils, have raised concerns about the environmental impact of drilling in The Bight.
The concerns have been fuelled again this week following reports modelling by BP showed oil could begin washing up on the coast of South Australia within nine days of a major spill in The Bight.