Geelong organisations share concerns over Corio Bay gas terminal

Thousands of submissions have been lodged as part of an environmental assessment process for the proposed gas terminal.

Concerns over Viva Energy’s proposed gas terminal have surged with port authorities, city councils and local secondary schools among the 2000 submitters outlining their disapproval.

The $250m terminal, which would be built by Viva Energy off the Refinery Pier in Corio Bay, has been subject to public scrutiny through the project’s Environment Effects Statement (EES) process.

Borough of Queenscliffe chief executive Martin Gill refused to support the project in his submission, recognising “immediate and urgent action is required to reduce emissions”.

“The Borough submits that on the matter of greenhouse gas emissions, the Viva Gas Terminal project does not meet the fundamental requirements of the Climate Change Act 2017, in that it does not contribute to the achievement of emission reduction targets committed to by the state,” he said.

In its submissions, the GeelongPort further stated the project would have “unacceptable impacts on GeelongPort and the Port of Geelong”.

Geelong Grammar also expressed concerns over the terminal’s proximity to its campus as well as ecological impacts on the bay.

Submissions received during the community consultation period, which came to a close last month, will be among the documents discussed at a Directions Hearing from May 5, before the Victorian government makes its final ruling.

It comes as the state government announced via its budget that it will spend $7.8m to support “strong regulation” of Victoria’s gas resources as the state “reduces its reliance on natural gas” and transitions to more sustainable options.

Protestors against the Corio Bay gas terminal Picture: Mark Wilson

Other key submitters included the City of Greater Geelong, Clonard College, Geelong Renewables not Gas, Ports Victoria, The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, Environment Protection Authority, Northern Bay P-12 College and the Geelong Chamber of Commerce.

Among those in support of the proposal, the Geelong Football Club’s submission stated that both the club and the refinery were “two iconic Geelong institutions.”

“Only one of two refineries remaining in Australia, it plays an important role in the nation’s fuel security and provides hundreds of high-skilled manufacturing jobs,” Simon Kelleher wrote on behalf of the club.

Geelong Renewables not Gas spokesman Darcy Dunn said the majority of submissions reflected an “extraordinary” disapproval for the proposal.

“The overwhelming majority of those submissions are against the project proceeding due to safety concerns, the impact on Corio Bay and the greenhouse gas emissions associated with such a large fossil fuel project,” he said.

“Submissions reflect that people want Geelong to move quickly towards a future of renewable energy sources, not those fossil fuels that are threatening both health and our climate.”

A Viva Energy spokesman previously told the Addy, “the project will not proceed unless we can demonstrate that it will be safe for the community and the ­environment”.

Originally published as Geelong organisations share concerns over Corio Bay gas terminal