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Great Australian Bight Alliance
Krever innsyn i Equinors miljøplan for omstridt ...

The big issue surfers are taking a stand against

Source: News.com

When professionals like Mick Fanning speak up, people take notice.

But in this case he didn’t really have to — thousands of people have filled beaches and oceans across the country in recent weeks of their own accord, fighting a plan that affects not only an Australian icon but our whole coastline.

They’re protesting Norwegian energy company Equinor’s plans to drill for oil in a protected marine park within the Great Australian Bight.

Paddle-out protests have been happening at beaches across the country, from Torquay in Victoria to Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast and Newcastle in New South Wales.

Another is planned for St Kilda this Sunday, and more are planned for Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, and Sydney in coming weeks.

Storer seeks two-step drilling review

Source: Port Lincoln Times

Independent Senator Tim Storer visited Port Lincoln on Wednesday to garner support from locals for his bill that would introduce a compulsory higher level of consideration for drilling proposals in the Great Australian Bight. 

Mr Storer said as an independent senator, he cannot bring the bill to the floor for debate, and was now seeking support from the opposition to bring it forward for a potential vote into legislation. 

"The nature of the proposal is to drill 2,250 metres deep," he said. 

"Therefore I welcome the NOPSEMA technical expertise, but I thought there should be a two stage process....looking at serious or irreversible environment damage, community concerns, and ecological sustainable development."

Mr Storer said these aspects were covered in the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, but doesn't apply for the decision on drilling, which his amendment bill looks to rectify. 

"An idea I had for legislation was for a higher level of consideration, which already exists under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act....but doesn't apply for these decisions," he said. 

The bill would retain the initial NOPSEMA review, but if NOPSEMA approves an action in the Bight, then the act's second review process would "kick-in".

Government accused of doing 'bugger all' to shore up Australia's fuel security

Source: ABC News
A former high-ranking Air Force officer has accused the Federal Government of doing "bugger all" to bolster Australia's fuel security, saying it was "simplistic" to use the shortcomings as an argument to drill in the Great Australian Bight.

Since 2010-11, Australia's net petroleum stockholdings have fallen from its International Energy Agency (IEA) obligations of 90 days' worth, in the event of market failure, to just 50 days.

The Government's Australian Petroleum Statistics published in November said this would amount to 21 days of petrol for automobiles, 18 days of diesel and 20 days of aviation fuel.

Read more

Artists install impressive sea sculpture with an important environmental message

Source: Victor Harbor Times
Victor Harbor born and raised stone mason Ken Herron has joined forces with Mypolonga based boiler maker Jason Wachtel to create a towering Poseidon sculpture with an important environmental message.

The sculpture which has been placed along the Brighton Esplanade foreshore in a prominent position, as part of this year’s Brighton Jetty Sculptures Festival, has been receiving unbridled attention since its installation this week.

The towering figure is Ken and Jason’s depiction of god of the seas Poseidon, and has a timely message following recent government pushes to explore oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight. 

Read more…

Greens, Wilderness Society say Bight seismic testing approval is delayed

Source: NOPSEMA
The Australian Greens and the Wilderness Society say National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority has delayed approving the latest application for seismic testing in the Great Australian Bight.

Oil exploration company PGS on November 7, submitted its revised environmental plan to NOPSEMA relating to a request to undertake seismic testing in waters 51km from Cape Carnot, Eyre Peninsula, 90km west of Kangaroo Island and 80km south-southwest of Port Lincoln. 

The Greens say the regulator was due to make a decision on the application on December 7, however they have extended their deadline due to the complexity of the assessment.

“The survey area stretches 30,100 km2, and would run for 24/7, for three months from September in 2019 and 2020.

“This is one of the closest seismic testing areas to land in the Great Australian Bight. The waters off Kangaroo Island are a vital feeding ground for endangered blue whales.

“PGS has resubmitted its environmental plan three times and had 12 extensions from the regulator to alter its environmental plan. 

More information can be found here: https://www.nopsema.gov.au/environmental-management/activity-status-and-summaries/details/387

Seafood industry calls for Senate inquiry into seismic testing

Source: ABC news
Members of the Australian seafood industry are persisting in their calls for an inquiry into seismic testing, despite the Senate having twice rejected the idea.

Seismic surveys, which are used to search for undersea oil and gas deposits, involve firing intense sound waves into the ocean floor, which fishers worry could disrupt the behaviour of marine life.

Read more;

Full ABC article here

Unite the Bight campaign brings award-winning film to Victor Harbor


Source: Victor Harbor Times
South Coast environmentalists have taken great strides in protecting the Great Australian Bight (GAB) from oil drilling in the past year, forcing the exits of oil giants BP and Chevron – but the fight is not over yet.

Read the full article in The Times here

Port Lincon shows support for unite the bight November 10, 2017


Source: Port Lincoln Times
The Great Australian Bight Alliance has received plenty of support from the Port Lincoln community as it plans to get its message across on the steps of Parliament House later this month.

More than 300 people attended a free music festival at Beer Garden Brewing on Sunday, one of a series of Unite the Bight events held at coastal communities across the state.

Read the full Port Lincoln Times article here

Port Lincoln shows support for Unite the Bight


Source: Port Lincoln Times
The Great Australian Bight Alliance has received plenty of support from the Port Lincoln community as it plans to get its message across on the steps of Parliament House later this month.

More than 300 people attended a free music festival at Beer Garden Brewing on Sunday, one of a series of Unite the Bight events held at coastal communities across the state.

Read the full Port Lincoln Times article here

Port Lincoln Unite the Bight.jpg

HANDS ACROSS THE SAND EVENTS - 2017

Communities across Australia are coming together to #FightfortheBight this Saturday the 20th May. Australia is holding a record number of Hands Across the Sand events from Ceduna to Wollongong!

Events are being held at:

  • Glenelg Beach, Adelaide, SA
  • Town beach, Port Lincoln, SA
  • Town Jetty, Ceduna, SA
  • Berry Bay, Yorke Peninsula, SA
  • St Kilda Beach, Melbourne, VIC
  • Sisters Beach, TAS
  • Bellerive Beach, Hobart, TAS
  • Austinmer Beach, Wollongong, NSW

Check out the Great Australian Bight Alliance Facebook page for more details of each event.

Decision pushed back after revelations oil spill from BP’s proposed drilling in the Great Australian Bight would affect SA shorelines


Source: The Advertiser
A WORST-CASE scenario oil spill — with no clean up response — from BP’s proposed offshore oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight would definitely result in shorelines along the South Australian coast being affected, new research shows.

A decision on the plan, to drill two oil wells in waters up to 2250m deep, starting late this year, was yesterday pushed back by 10 days by the Federal Government’s National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

Read the full Advertiser article here

BOB BROWN FOUNDATION JOINS GREAT AUSTRALIAN BIGHT ALLIANCE TO FIGHT OFF OIL RIG

The Bob Brown Foundation has joined a national alliance of environment organisations to fight off the impending arrival of the world's biggest oil rig in the Great Australian Bight. The rig, currently nearing completion in South Korea, is due in the Bight in October after which BP intends to drill thousands of metres under the 2000 metres deep Bight.