The possible resumption of gas drilling off the New South Wales coastline from Manly to Newcastle has raised concerns over a potential disruption of the annual whale migration patterns through Queensland.
The Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP-11) will allow the use of seismic blasts in the gas exploration process, which will have a devastating impact on marine life. According to Friends of the Earth Australia these blasts will render the whales deaf or dead.
“Allowing fossil methane gas exploration or extraction in the busy east coast whale migration route is absolute madness,” said Jeff Waters of the Friends of the Earth Australia’s Offshore Fossil Gas Campaigner.
In 2021, former prime minister Scott Morrison intervened to stop the drilling but Asset Energy took the matter to court. However, on the 3rd of Feb. 2023, the Federal Government announced its agreement to resolve court proceedings with Asset Energy by filing the consent orders with the Federal Court of Australia.
Once the court grants the consent orders then the NSW State Government has to make its decision.
“How can the government even be considering disrupting such an important area?” Mr Waters asked.
“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 added.
Meanwhile, the Greens, through its spokesperson Sue Higginson, have also called on the NSW Government to oppose PEP-11.
“PEP 11 is an unreasonable and dangerous project that is universally opposed by communities from Sydney’s Northern Beaches through to Newcastle,” she said. “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.”
“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.”
NSW independents are also asking the state to drop the PEP-11 license and ban gas exploration across the shores.
Published 04 February 2023
