CONCERNS have been formally expressed by Moyne Shire Council in regard to deep sea oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight.
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Councillors passed a motion at their July meeting on Tuesday that noted these concerns.
The motion is calling for council to have close contact with energy company Equinor, which has plans to undertake oil exploration in the Great Australian Bight.
It calls for consultation with Equinor regarding its environmental plan and updates from the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority (NOPSEMA) in relation to the application.
The issue was brought to council’s attention in June with the Fight the Bight Port Fairy group tabling a petition to ban gas and oil exploration in the bight.
The petition contained 498. That number has since grown by a further 116.
Group leader Ben Druitt made a presentation to councillors at Tuesday’s meeting with a large number of group members in attendance.
Cr Jordan Lockett said supporting the motion cut through to the core of why he stepped into public office.
“I think we are doing the right thing, and that is why I became a councillor, to do the right thing,” Cr Lockett said.
“We are trying to protect and keep our beaches pristine, as they have been for hundreds of millions of years. There is no benefit to Moyne Shire Council if drilling was to occur.”
Cr Jim Doukas said the lines of communication needed to be kept open.
“By supporting this motion, we are keeping ourselves and our community informed on this process.”
The South Australian Wilderness Society director Peter Owen has welcomed Moyne’s expression of concern, saying Moyne was the first council outside that state to get on board.
He said 11 councils in South Australia have voiced their opposition to deep water drilling.
“The opposition to oil and gas exploration in the Great Australian Bight is escalating rapidly,” Mr Owen said.
“Equinor should start listening to the people and quit its plans to drill in the deep, rough and remote waters of the Great Australian Bight, just as BP and Chevron have already done.
“The Great Australian Bight is a unique, pristine marine environment, with 85 per cent of its marine species found only in these waters.”
