‘Risky’: Why Vopak knocked back Corio Bay gas terminal site

New reports have revealed the site of Viva’s floating gas terminal was once knocked back by other companies. Here’s why.

Protestesters of the Viva Energy gas terminal.

A multinational knocked back building a gas import terminal in Corio Bay due to navigation and environmental concerns, new reports have revealed.

Earlier this week Dutch storage giant Vopak formally lodged a proposal to build a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal 19km off the coast of Avalon.

Geelong environmental protesters at Geelong Port, protesting an extension to refinery pier for Viva's floating gas terminal.

New information lodged with the referral revealed the company explored locations in Portland, Altona, Avalon, Longford and Geelong Port before settling on the current site.

“Geelong Port posed a greater potential marine ecology (than Avalon) as it required dredge to create a suitable marine berth,” the application read.

A separate application from Viva Energy to build a similar $250m gas import terminal off refinery pier is currently being considered by the state planning minister.

The Vopak report said the company settled on Avalon because it also allowed for “Safety in relation to general marine navigation of Port Phillip Bay, exclusion zones of vessels travelling to and from the FSRU and flight paths associated with the adjacent Avalon Airport”.

Critics of the Corio Bay proposal raised concerns with potential emissions, proximity to homes, marine impact and safety.

A Viva Energy spokesman said the conclusion of the state inquiry process meant the company was “confident” extensive studies and hearings showed “the location is well suited for the facility”.

“Viva Energy continues to believe its site in Corio Bay is the best location for a gas terminal in Victoria,” he said.

“The site is an existing industrial facility, does not impact any local protected Ramsar wetlands, and the facility will have minimal change to or impact on the local environment.”

The assessment process has been rigorous across a two-year period, and we look forward to the Ministers’ decision regarding its approval.”

Gas terminal proposals have caused community angst.

But Environment Victoria chief executive Jono La Nauze said Vopak’s concerns about the Corio Bay location backed up months of community campaigns.

“These documents reveal for the first time that a rival LNG company rejected Corio Bay as a location for a gas import terminal due to concerns about dredging, the impact on marine life, safety risks and being too close to residential homes,” he said.

“These floating gas import terminals are so risky that Vopak wants to locate theirs 19 kilometres offshore, but Viva’s plan is for massive LNG tanker ships to pass within a few hundred metres of people’s homes in North Shore.”

“Vopak’s proposed terminal might be located further away from homes but it would still import enormous amounts of gas, entrenching our reliance on a polluting and increasingly expensive fuel at a time when we should be focused on transitioning to renewable energy.”

Originally published as ‘Risky’: Why Vopak knocked back Corio Bay gas terminal site