The PEP-11 gas exploration license which covers more than 4,000 square kilometres offshore from Manly to Newcastle could potentially be reactivated following the Federal Government’s decision to negotiate the end of a Court appeal. Environmental groups say the plan threatens whale migration, marine environment, coastlines and environment.
Announced in early February 2023, the Australian Government has reached an agreement with Asset Energy to end the ongoing Court action and subsequently filed proposed consent orders with the Federal Court of Australia,
If the proposed consent orders get accepted, it would mean that the decision on the project will now be left to the Commonwealth-New South Wales Offshore Petroleum Joint Authority. The NSW Government will be the first to consider its position on the matter.
“I assure Australians that any decisions that I take as the federal minister for resources will always be based on sound evidence and in accordance with the law,” The Minister for Resources, the Hon Madeleine King MP said.
“Australians quite rightly expect this of their elected leaders.
“I am not going to provide an ongoing commentary on future official decisions that come before the joint authority, whether in relation to PEP-11 or any other matter.”
In December 2021, former Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that he would reject any renewal of the Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 or PEP-11 license in light of strong community opposition to the project. The application to extend the license for two years was refused the following year, effectively banning the consortium from exploiting the area.
Principal permit holders, Asset Energy, however, took the matter to Federal Court after it was revealed that Scott Morrison failed to disclose to his Cabinet colleagues and to the public that he had sworn himself into the resources portfolio and to four other departments of state.
Photo credit: Google Maps
Friends of the Earth Australia believes that overturning the decision could put whales and other marine mammals under threat. The group argues that seismic blasting will disrupt the whale migration route and potentially render aquatic animals deaf, thus, they are urging the State Government not to let it go ahead.
“Allowing fossil methane gas exploration or extraction in the busy east coast whale migration route is absolute madness,” Friends of the Earth Australia’s Offshore Fossil Gas Campaigner, Jeff Waters, said.
“Queensland’s spectacular annual whale migration will be drastically disrupted.”
“The constant, massive explosions in the sea that will be needed to survey the site will not only scare whales away from this important corridor, but it has also been shown to send aquatic mammals deaf, guaranteeing their deaths.”
“Seismic blasting is also known to kill other sea life, including krill, which is an important food source for fish and other wildlife,” he said.
The Greens, on the other hand, are calling on the NSW Government to recommit to opposing PEP-11 and work with their federal colleagues to have the plan resolved once and for all.
“PEP 11 is an unreasonable and dangerous project that is universally opposed by communities from Sydney’s Northern Beaches through to Newcastle. The NSW Government needs to guarantee that they will do everything in their power to stop these gas bullies from ruining our marine environment, coastlines and our climate,” Greens spokesperson Sue Higginson said.
“The gas companies are threatening NSW and Australia with a gas shortage that they have created by exporting domestic gas overseas for massive profits. This project will do nothing to alleviate the energy crisis and if the gas is extracted and burnt, it will become a primary driver of worsening climate change disasters.
“Matt Kean needs to contact the Federal Resources Minister and demand that the decision to end this seismic testing is re-made in no uncertain terms so that NSW residents are released from this cycle of bullying by gas corporations.”
Published 10-February-2023
