On Sunday surfers, paddle board riders and community members gathered at Warrnambool's breakwater to support the push to protect the Great Australian Bight.

Norwegian company Equinor wants to drill in the bight, which could have disastrous consequences if there was an oil spill.

A leaked document seen by Greenpeace has shown the blowout of an oil well in the bight could leak for more than 100 days and sully beaches along Australia's coastline from WA to Sydney.

Cr Owen said Sunday's protest was one of "the biggest Warrnambool had ever seen".

"It was really significant," he said. "Three councils in Victoria already oppose the drilling (including Moyne Shire) and 15 do in South Australia. We have to stop exploration in this area. My intention is to bring a notice of motion to council oppose it."

He said the drilling could endanger the "incredibly diverse" marine life in the bight.

"We have to put the environment first," he said.

"The spill modelling shows it would go from South Australia to Sydney and to parts of Tasmania. We need to say no to any oil or gas exploration in our area.

"People say it is a federal government issue, but we are the inhabitants of this wonderful area and we need to fight for the bight."

Cr Owen said there was no economic benefits for the region as the exploration company were from Norway.

"Imagine the impact if there was a spill," he said. "It would change our way of life."

Cr Owen encouraged people to complete a submission against the drilling to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority.

"This doesn't align with our Warrnambool 2040 plan and our green plan," he said.

"Warrnambool is becoming more environmentally aware. We do put our environment on the list of things we hold dear. We don't need any more oil wells."

Ben Druitt, an organiser for the Fight for the Bight campaign, was encouraged by the success of the Warrnambool rally.

“Our group worked hard to advertise the event over the last month, but when the ‘clicks’ and ‘likes’ translate into physical motion, it’s very moving," he said.

"The huge turnout shows that people increasingly feel that they are not being represented by our federal politicians in terms of the environment. And so they’re taking matters into their own hands.”

Mr Druitt encouraged as many people as possible to make a submission to NOPSEMA before March 20.

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