State Environment Minister Gavin Jennings has given the company approval to explore the park for petroleum through five seismic explorations.

The development has horrified the Friends of the Bay of Islands Coastal Park, which has vowed to strongly fight the testing.

Group secretary Richard Stevens said the approval came without warning, giving local residents no opportunity to raise their concerns.

“My initial reaction is one of horror,” Mr Stevens told The Standard.

“This is another case ... of this government going ahead with local planning permits without local consultation, it is appalling.

“It has caught everyone by surprise.

‘‘But it will be strongly objected to, mark my words about that.”

The notice of consent was tabled in State Parliament yesterday and is valid for two years.

The approval is for five seismic explorations that do not involve explosives.

Mr Jennings said he would not have signed the consent form without strict environmental controls.

The minister compared the level of surface vibration to being like standing on Spring Street when a City Circle tram went past.

‘‘This is 30 kilometres away from the Twelve Apostles. A tram goes past in Spring Street, nobody is going to feel it or hear it or respond to it in Werribee, which is about 30 kilometres away.’’

If the testing went ahead, the minister said, it would be timed for between October and December when whales were not in the area.

He said further development would not happen in the coastal park, which stretches from Peterborough to close to Warrnambool in a narrow, 32-kilometre long strip.

“It is a very thin stretch of coast and some of it is quite fragile,” Mr Stevens said.

Victorian National Parks Association executive director Matt Ruchel said parks were for people and nature, not mining companies.

Mr Ruchel called on the government to commit to no mining or exploration in national parks.

‘‘What happens down the track if something is found?,”

Mr Ruchel said.

“The land and the sea is sensitive. It’s fragile geologically and ecologically.’’

Premier John Brumby said the testing posed no threat to the iconic Twelve Apostles.

Mr Brumby said there would also be no impact on any of the rare flora and fauna species along the stretch of the western district’s scenic coastline.

“There is no threat to (the Apostles), there is no threat to sea life,” Mr Brumby said yesterday.

“It’s a very basic form of exploratory survey.

“There is no threat to any of the tourist attractions or the geography in the area.

“It’s basic work,” Mr Brumby said.

With THE AGE