‘Save Western Port — No AGL Gas’ group vows to stop floating gas terminal at Crib Point
ANGRY locals say an AGL plan for a floating gas terminal will wreak havoc on the Crib Point environment and create a dangerous fire hazard.
South East
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THE community is fighting AGL’s plan for a floating gas terminal at Crib Point, fearing its impact on the environment and the risk of fires.
About 100 people packed Crib Point Community House last Tuesday night to attend a meeting run by the ‘Save Western Port — No AGL Gas’ group.
The energy company is planning a project that will source gas from Australian and international suppliers for its customers in southeastern Australia.
$250M GAS IMPORT TERMINAL SLATED FOR CRIB POINT
The gas would be transported on liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships from interstate and overseas, transferred to another ship and converted from liquid form back into gas on that ship, then piped into the existing transportation network.
The ship, known as a floating storage and regassification unit, that stores the liquid gas would be moored at the existing jetty at Crib Point.
The gas import jetty would be connected by pipeline to an existing gas pipeline in Pakenham.
Opponents Louise Page and Don Juniper voiced concerns about noise and visual pollution, and the risk of explosion and increased risk of bushfires.
Prominent peninsula environmentalist Jenny Warfe urged residents to keep fighting the plan.
“The ecosystem of Western Port is functioning like a human body does and should be treated the same way,” she said.
Ms Warfe said she feared a “heavy industrial use” at the Crib Point jetty site would degrade the environment.
“To be told the risks can be managed and everything is going to be fine is not worth a pinch of poop.”
Residents voted to reject the plan due to the risk of a “devastating fire — explosion event” and take their fight to parliament.
AGL General Manager Energy Supply and Origination Phaedra Deckart said environmental assessments suggested the floating unit would have minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.
She said although the Liquefied Natural Gas industry had an outstanding safety record, they were addressing the potential risks.
“No LNG ship has experienced an explosion or material safety event and the storage facility will be floating, well away from the shore,” Ms Deckart said. She said the project could not proceed until the company had satisfied a large number of environmental and safety requirements.
Mornington Peninsula Mayor Bryan Payne said the council had yet to take a position on the project.
Victorian Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio there was a clear process that needed to be followed before an application for a licence to build or operate a pipeline could be made.