A multinational gas and oil giant says it remains committed to consultation amid rising community and industry concerns over proposed seismic blast surveys for gas in the Otway Basin, off south-west Victoria.
In recent weeks, energy company ConocoPhillips has held community consultation sessions in Warrnambool, Port Fairy, and Portland, where residents voiced concerns about the effects of seismic blasting on both wildlife and marine habitat.
Seismic blast testing is the first step in oil and gas exploration, where powerful air guns fire loud blasts of compressed air every 10 to 15 seconds to survey seabeds.
The project is in the environmental assessment stage.
If approved by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), the company intends to explore commercially viable gas deposits at two sites in Commonwealth waters, one west of King Island and another off the coast of Warrnambool.
Pat Nesbitt, secretary of a new local group called Protect the West, said she held concerns about the proposal and challenged the notion that seismic testing was a passive and non-invasive procedure.
"We do realise there are a lot of unknowns. However, sound is essential to the survival of whales, dolphins, porpoises," Ms Nesbitt said.
"The literature indicates the blasting can have an impact on the hearing and physiology of animals."
A 2013 review by the Convention on Biological Diversity found marine mammals could be impacted by the seismic pulses, as they could create "stress responses" or affect prey availability.
Mounting pressure from opponents
The group formally approached Warrnambool City Council on May 22 to urge it to move a motion to "join the Surf Coast and Colac Otway Council to oppose seismic blasting".
In a statement, CEO Andrew Mason said Protect the West had briefed the council on the proposed seismic testing.
"We are now arranging for a briefing from the testing proponent. At this stage council has not formally considered its position on the proposed testing," Mr Mason said.
The statement also noted the proposed testing would take place in Commonwealth waters, over which council has no statutory decision-making authority.
Matthew Smith, director of Klarite, a consulting company employed by CGG to liaise with the south-west Victorian community, defended the process.
He said seismic surveying had been undertaken across Australian waters for 60 years.
"The technology has advanced remarkably in that time," Mr Smith said.
"We aren't shying away from the fact that most developments of some description have an impact.
"Some of the impacts [we anticipate] that are permitted under the regulations, are things like behavioural effects to marine mammals.
"What is not permitted … [is] what we call a temporary threshold shift to southern right whales and blue whales.
"A temporary threshold shift is something you might experience if you went to a rock concert and you got ringing in your ears for a couple of days … we are not allowed to have that effect on [the whales]."
More gas supplies needed, company says
The general manager of government and external affairs for ConocoPhillips Australia, Fiona McLeod, said the company wanted to meet Australia's growing energy needs.
She said the process of seismic blasting was "heavily regulated" by the federal government.
"Some would say our offshore regulation is some of the strictest in the world," Ms McLeod said.
"The question and the deep concern around why do we need more gas when we are trying to solve our climate change problem … well, with gas we have a resource that is vital to our economy and essential to our daily lives.
"At the moment, it is in demand ... because the biggest users of gas are industries and manufacturers that make everything from bricks to butter."
In January this year, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission released a gas inquiry report, which forecast liquidised natural gas producers "have enough uncontracted gas to prevent a domestic shortfall".
The ACCC did add a shortfall was still possible.
Community consultation sessions continue in Warrnambool on May 29, Port Fairy on May 30 and Portland on May 31.
