Geelong Sustainability is supporting Surfrider Foundation, OCEAN and Marine Conservation in the Save the Southern Sea campaign which targets one of the largest seismic blasting proposals in the world. The proposed blasting area extends from the South Australian/Victorian border to Tasmania.
What is Seismic Blasting?
Multinational companies TGS and SLB (Schlumberger) have applied to seismic blast the area for 400 days. This endangers unique and globally significant areas, including the 12 Apostles, the Great Southern Reef and numerous marine protected areas (including two Commonwealth Marine Parks and protected whale sanctuaries). These proposals threaten the coastline, marine life, culturally significant areas and the climate.
Seismic blasting is the first step in offshore oil and gas exploration. The process involves ships, equipped with air guns, emitting deafening blasts of sound into the ocean. These blasts reach 250 decibels–louder than an atomic bomb! For context, seismic blasts are 1 million times louder than a whale call. These blasts occur:
– Every 10 seconds
– 24 hours a day
– Up to 400 days at a time
Why is this problematic?
Seismic blasts displace, injure and kill marine life. The blasts kill zooplankton and krill over a kilometre away and damage the sensory organs of marine animals, especially whales and dolphins who rely on hearing for survival.
Once an area has been blasted, the next step is drilling for gas. Additional emissions originating from new gas fields will intensify climate change. Seismic blasting and the expansion of the fossil fuel industry pose an unacceptable risk to our environment and are incompatible with a liveable future.
Recent Actions
Paddle Out
Staff from Geelong Sustainability joined hundreds of locals on Saturday 23 March for a Paddle Out at Cosy Corner in Torquay, one of the areas that would be affected if the proposal goes ahead. Local Indigenous leaders, politicians and Surfrider Foundation all spoke before the Paddle Out, expressing their opposition to oil and gas exploration and why we must protect the Southern Sea.
Photo: Corrina Eccles, Wadawurrung Woman and Drew McPherson, Surfrider Foundation address the large crowd before the Paddle Out.
Southern Blast Film screening Geelong Sustainability hosted the screening of the Surfrider Foundation film, Southern Blast on Wednesday 1 May. Showcasing the beautiful and wild ocean off the coast of Victoria, this powerful film explained why we need to protect our ocean from seismic blasting, who will be affected and especially how marine life will be affected. The film was followed by Surfrider Foundation’s Darren Noyes-Brown, who explained that we are now waiting for the updated Environment Impact report to come back from TGS and SLB, and what we can do now to end gas and oil exploration.
Apollo Bay Peaceful Demonstration Karina from Geelong Sustainability joined Apollo Bay’s peaceful demonstration on Thursday 30 May which saw a fantastic turnout of locals who all say no to seismic blasting. The Otway Coastal Environment Action Network organised the event to coincide with TGS’s ‘drop in’ session, showing decision makers just how opposed our communities are to seismic blasting.
How you can help
The impact of our community action so far has seen the blasting area reduced (the fourth reduction) by approx. 30%, and NOPSEMA (National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority) have sent TGS a 25-page list of things that need to be fixed in their Environment Plan!
NOPSEMA was due to give their decision by 12 July, but this has been delayed again until the end of July. In the meantime, OCEAN (Otway Coastal Environment Action Network) is asking that you contact NOPSEMA directly in regards to the Environmental Plan and issues you or your group are having with TGS. Copy TGS into the emails.
– NOPSEMA: [email protected] and [email protected]
– TGS: [email protected]
You may also like to sign the petition to have these types of permits (Special Prospector’s Authority permits – or SPAs) abolished. SPAs bypass a lot of the usual checks and balances, including environmental approval and they can be purchased by fossil fuel companies for as little as $8,450. Sign the petition.
You can also sign the campaign, and sign the petition or write to your MP with the help of the Surfrider Foundation’s template: https://www.surfrider.org.au/campaigns/save-the-southern-sea/
Surfrider Foundation is also encouraging you to write to the Federal Minister for Resources, Hon Madeleine King MP.
Drill Watch are hosting the Citizens Protection Declaration on behalf of the Southern Ocean Protection Embassy Collective. Stand in solidarity with First Nations communities asserting their care for Sea Country. You can sign their petition here.