Issue 134 February 6, 2018
Your independent community newspaper - Ph: 4325 7369
Exploratory underwater seismic blasts approved A
sset Energy has been given permission to use underwater seismic blasts to search for coal and gas off the Central Coast, according to the Central Coast Greens. The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority granted Asset Energy permission to do the testing in an area close to Toukley, Budgewoi and the Lake Munmorah Conservation Area, and north to Newcastle. “Central Coast Greens have long stood for no new coal and no gas extraction on the Coast, and extend that call for a ban to off-shore areas too,” said Ms Abigail Boyd, Spokesperson for The Greens on the Central Coast. “The majority of Australians, backed by the Greens, want more investment in renewable energy providing sustainable jobs, and reducing the risks of climate change,” Ms Boyd said. “Ms Abigail Boyd and Greens Member of the NSW Legislative Council, Mr Jeremy Buckingham, spoke at a public meeting on Saturday, January 27, to recommit their opposition to the Wallarah 2 long-wall coal
Catherine Hill Bay Lake Munmorah Budgewoi Toukley
The NOPSEMA location map for the seismic testing mine. Mr Josh Frydenberg, to with the start of this year’s According to Ms Boyd, overturn the approval whale migration. the mine “will undermine for seismic testing and The details were our water supplies, and also deny a licence for released with the Wallarah 2. pollute our air. publication of the “He has these powers Environment Plan “We will not let this new threat go unopposed under the Environment, Summary and Statement Protection and of Reasons, coming either,” she said. Biodiversity Conservation a fortnight after the “Not only will both Act (EPBC), and must announcement of the seismic testing and act before March 7,” she approval. long-wall coal mining said. Seismic testing has directly damage our local Greens NSW been approved to run for environment, putting parliamentarian, Mr up to four day for 24 hours our water supplies at Justin Field, has drawn a day between March 15 risk, and impacting on attention to the dangers and May 30, excluding our cherished marine environment, both to marine life, including the Easter period. projects are seeking to migrating whales, from Mr Field called on the the seismic testing. find more fossil fuel. NSW Government to “Central Coast intervene and ensure the “Only fossil fools look for coal and gas any Greens will join the local proposed testing for oil community in actions to and gas did not go ahead. more. “This is the wrong “The science is in, ensure that governments climate change will and investors are left in project at the wrong produce more droughts, no doubt about the level time in the wrong area more floods, more of opposition from the and will put at risk our local community,” he precious marine life disruption, more risk. said. including threatened and “We must act now to Mr Field said vulnerable whales,” he meet our international documents released on said. targets to prevent the February 1 regarding the “The approval runs worst effects. seismic testing approved to May 30 while the “We call on the Federal by the Federal regulator offi cial start of the Environment Minister, show it risks clashing
whale migration is June 1, last year the NSW Environment Department issued a media release announcing sighting of whales along the coast in late May. “Allowing night time operation means it will be next to impossible to identify whale movements in the danger area of the blasts, risking threatened and vulnerable species like the Southern Right Whale and Humpback Whale.” The seismic testing will occur in an area that is recognised to be home to 22 threatened species including whales, turtles and migratory birds and has the potential to injure fish up to 1km from the air blasts. “The document shows that a large number of threatened and vulnerable species occur in the area of the testing, Mr Field said. “The report accepts that fin fish are likely to suffer permanent injury and death within 70 metres of the airgun and accept temporary hearing loss is possible out to 1km. “This testing will mean a massive air explosion every 3-4 seconds for a period of 3-4 days, 24 hours a day and the company has acknowledged the risk of animal mortality. “There is a real issue with transparency and
consultation with the federal regulator. “It’s unacceptable that an approval is granted before the public is able to see and respond to the environment plans of the company. “The Greens are opposed to this exploration and opposed to any plan for future oil or gas development off the NSW Coast. “We need to end the obsession with fossil fuels which is put our planet and the environment we love and rely on at risk.” A search of the EPBC Act Protected Matters Database was undertaken to identify the likelihood of occurrence of listed fauna within and around the Operational Area. The search resulted in the following areas/ species identified: 36 listed threatened species (22 likely to occur in the survey area); 42 migratory species (23 considered likely to occur in the survey area and 23 also listed as threatened); and 32 whales and other cetaceans.
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Source: Media release, Feb 2 Jane Garcia, office of Justin Field Media release, Feb 5 Abigail Boyd, The Greens Central Coast Website, Feb 5 NOPSEMA, Baleen 2D HR Seismic Survey