ConocoPhillips drill rigs ready to explore Bass Strait off King Island, Tasmania for oil reserves

The King Island community is calling for back up as it prepares for a fuel giant to visit the Bass Strait island to talk about its oil drilling plans.

A protest off King Island in 2021

THE King Island community is calling for back up as it prepares for representatives of a fuel giant to visit the Bass Strait island to talk about its oil drilling plans.

In 2021, the Wilderness Society commissioned independent polling company EMRS to conduct an island-wide survey on seismic blasting proposed by ConocoPhillips.

It found more than 90 per cent of King Island residents opposed ConocoPhillips’ drilling operations planned for the Otway Basin, 30km west of the island.

The company, which has drilling rigs ready to start work next year, has announced plans to visit the island to again consult with residents.

ConocoPhillips said its exploration program in the Otway Basin would involve seabed surveys and drilling up to a maximum of six exploration wells.

The program will not start before January and is subject to an accepted environment plan, rig availability and a conducive investment and regulatory environment.

“ConocoPhillips Australia is currently preparing an EP for these activities and will undertake consultation prior to submitting the EP to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority for public comment and assessment,” the company said.

King Island. Photo: Stu Gibson

The Wilderness Society Tasmania and Surfrider Tasmania said the federal government and corporate decision-makers needed to respect resident views.

“The 2021 survey results showed that 77 per cent of King Island residents said they weren’t genuinely consulted by ConocoPhillips’ previous ‘consultation and 97 per cent said they wanted a meaningful say about seismic testing in local waters,” Wilderness Society Tasmania’s Tom Allen said.

“The fact that seismic testing went ahead despite the community’s clear opposition – and now ConocoPhillips plans to roll out the rigs – shows that community views are yet to make any difference to its plans.”

“King Island is a case study. Communities everywhere want more transparency, integrity and accountability in government and corporate decisions that affect them. It’s Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek’s job to ensure that new Community Rights reforms to the national environment laws deliver on these fronts.”

Surfrider Tasmania’s Ally King said there was a significant push for gas and oil exploration off Tasmania’s North-West coast and throughout Bass Strait.

Ms King said in 2021, ConocoPhillips had refused to work with scientists wanting to conduct further research on the impact of seismic blasting on scallops and southern rock lobster.

“This is not just an issue for the marine environment but for local communities and economies that rely upon it for health and wellbeing and for their livelihoods,” she said.