Oil and gas exploration companies TGS and SLB-Schlumberger have voluntarily withdrawn their massive exploration proposal in the Otway Basin. This is a huge win for ocean protection and for all of those who want to see an end to oil and gas exploration in our waters.
TGS had originally proposed the world's largest gas exploration project on record for waters west of Bass Strait, located in the middle of important biological areas, known to be used by endangered blue whales and countless other marine life. After months of campaigning and community opposition from coastal communities and environmental orgs TGS has finally withdrawn their proposal.
With widespread community protests along the Victorian coastline, and sustained pressure on the Federal Government, the offshore oil and gas regulator NOPSEMA, and support from Victorian MPs, it’s clear that coastal communities want an end to offshore oil and gas in our waters - it also shows that when people join the party wave of climate action, people power wins!
Surfers for Climate CEO - Josh Kirkman:
“It’s time for oil and gas exploration to be wiped out of our oceans for good, especially when we have an abundance of natural and renewable resources such as wind and solar that can power us into a clean future.”
“It’s clear that communities along the Otway coast, as well as surfing communities around Australia, don’t want to see any more damaging fossil fuel exploration in their waters - the days of social licence for sucking up fossil fuels from our ocean are done.”
“Surfing and coastal communities put their hands up, joined the party wave of action, and added their voices to challenge the TGS proposal - and it paid off. A huge shout to environmental orgs like AMCS, Friends of the Earth, OCEAN and the Surfrider Foundation for the tremendous work all of them have done.”
“We now need the Albanese Government to commit to an end date on all new oil and gas exploration in our ocean. It is one of our most precious resources and it needs to be protected from carbon polluting oil and gas extraction forever.”
The Final Fight for the Bight
We’d like to continue this wave of momentum (excuse the pun), by rallying together for the Final Fight for the Bight. There’s an opportunity right now to make the Nullabor and Great Australian Bight a UNESCO World Heritage Area, but it isn’t going to happen without the Australian surfing community rising to the occasion one last time.
Surfers for Climate is standing shoulder to shoulder with active environmental organisations in the region like the Wilderness Society and Sea Shepherd, First Nations custodians, local legends, and environmental champs in one last big push: The Final Fight for the Bight to get this majestic and richly biodiverse area of Australia locked in with World Heritage status.
Add your voice in our Final Fight for the Bight.
Main image by Jarrah Lynch.
This Surfers for Climate blog post is supported by Polestar. Learn more about our collaboration with Polestar here.
