NO to Seismic Blasting in the Otway Basin

I am providing Public Comment regarding the Otway Basin 3D Multi-client Marine Seismic Survey proposal.

I am writing to you as a relevant person who is concerned about the impacts of the proposed seismic blasting.

The impacts from the proposed project have not been reduced to Acceptable Levels. The Environment Plan (EP) submitted to NOPSEMA to conduct seismic blasting in the Otway Basin is lacking in sufficient detail on the impacts and measures to mitigate these impacts.

This seismic blasting will cause direct harm to the ocean ecosystem. It is lethal for marine life, impacting all levels of the food chain from zooplankton (1) to whales (2). Krill and zooplankton are cornerstone species that are the main source of food for many larger animals. Their eradication would cause a catastrophic chain reaction that would affect the entire marine ecosystem.

Seismic blasts impact the breeding, feeding, and migration of whales, making them vulnerable to errors in navigation and to predation. They can cause whales to experience temporary or permanent hearing loss, which impacts their navigation, communication, and search for food since they rely on echolocation.

Impacts to our ocean environment and marine life have not been adequately considered, and the measures to mitigate these impacts are not sufficient. The use of a marine fauna spotter to spot whales and reduce the scale of seismic blasting frequency if they are spotted is ineffective as many of the affected species can dive for prolonged periods of time, and will not be sighted if in the area below water. This does not stop the impact of causing mortality in small fish and zooplankton.

This EP will not protect local fishing industries. Seismic blasting is deadly for marine life and decimates seafood populations, causing mortality in small fish and reducing catch size (3). These stocks may take many years to recover. Seafood and fish stocks may take many years to recover, as has been the case in commercial scallop fisheries in Bass Strait (4).

There is an unacceptable level of risk to the local tourism industry. Local seafood and wildlife and recreational activities such as fishing are a massive part of the local marine tourism industries that will be affected by this seismic blasting.

The OA extends through whale Songline Country. Traditional owners, keepers of whale songlines, have stated that this and any other gas and oil projects within their traditional waters have no permission to proceed. The Southern Ocean Protection Embassy Collective’s Citizens Protection Declaration condemns all new and existing seismic testing and gas mining exploration approvals across the south west Victorian coastal waters covering Gunditjmara Sea Country.

The proposed project contravenes the OPGGS Act, as it interferes with fishing, marine conservation, and activities of other marine based industry. It also contravenes the EPBC Act* protecting threatened and migratory species, natural ecosystems and marine areas, as well as Article 32, Item 2 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

The proposal to conduct seismic blasting using Special Prospecting Authority (SPA) permits sidesteps the usual government bidding and decision-making process, facilitating hasty and highly damaging oil and gas exploration proposals to progress rapidly through the regulatory approvals process.

A Senate Inquiry into the use of seismic blasting to locate and drill for oil and gas under the seabed found opposition from coastal communities, weak regulation, and outdated science. No more seismic blasting should be done until there is an understanding of the broader impacts of seismic testing on marine ecosystems. 

This seismic blasting proposal should be refused due to the unacceptable impacts noted above.  

I am a frequent visitor to the Surf Coast and the Great Ocean Road. I consider the environmental, cultural and social impacts of seismic blasting in the Otway Basin unacceptable.

(1) McCauley, R, Day, R, Swadling, K, Fitzgibbon, Q, Watson, R and Semmens, J, 2017, ‘Widely used marine seismic survey air gun operations negatively impact zooplankton’, Nature Ecology & Evolution, vol. 1(7), (accessed June 2021).

(2) Weilgart, L. (2013). “A review of the impacts of seismic airgun surveys on marine life.” Submitted to the CBD Expert Workshop on Underwater Noise and its Impacts on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, 25-27 February 2014, London, UK. Available at: http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=MCBEM-2014-01 

(3) ‘Seismic surveying reduces whiting catch rate by 99.5 per cent, research finds’, Rio Davis, https://amp.abc.net.au/article/12502930

(4) Submission to the senate inquiry: Impact of seismic testing on fisheries and the marine environment. 2019. IMAS Submission 34. Hobart: IMAS [online], https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Communications/SeismicTesting/Public_Hearings  (accessed June 2021)

*Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Yours sincerely,

Peter Campbell

Josh Frydenberg please strengthen Australia's environment laws that protect our wildlife and precious places

Dear Josh,

The current independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) released its interim report in July 2020, with the final report due in October. 

The interim report found that Australia’s environment is in an unsustainable state of decline and recommends a full suite of reforms to turn this around, including national environmental standards to protect wildlife and ecosystems, an independent watchdog to enforce the law and proper community participation in and oversight of the decisions governments make.

But the Morrison Government is this week rushing a bill before Parliament that would hand environmental protections over to the states before the independent review is finished and without strong assurance safeguards in place. 

The Morrison Government has also rejected calls for an independent watchdog, despite a recent Auditor-General report outlining ongoing, systemic failures by the Environment Department to enforce the laws and manage conflicts of interest.

Any amendments to the EPBC Act brought to Parliament to facilitate bilateral approval agreements with State Governments should be treated with scepticism. Without vital safeguards in place, the Government’s bill represents a hasty and thoughtless devolvement of Commonwealth powers and responsibilities to states and local governments that are often the proponents of regulated projects. 

Right now, there's been no consideration of its contents and implications, and the process is rushed and hasty - it’s time to slow down and get it right.

I ask you and your Senate colleagues to: 

• Oppose attempts to rush through amendments to the EPBC Act that could make our environment laws even weaker;
• Ensure the Morrison Gov’ts bill is given the full and proper scrutiny it requires, including whether it contains sufficient safeguards to ensure environment laws will be transparently and rigorously enforced; and 
• Support important reforms to fix our failed environment laws including strong national environmental standards to protect wildlife and ecosystems, an independent watchdog to enforce the law and proper community participation in and oversight of the decisions governments make.

In a country still reeling from the ecological catastrophe of the 2019-20 bushfires, we need national leadership to safeguard the ecosystems that support us, build resilience in the face of climate change, support communities to recover and protect our globally important wildlife.

You have the power to ensure our precious wildlife and forests don’t go the way of the Tasmanian Tiger. We need your leadership now.

Yours sincerely, 

Peter Campbell

(address supplied)

Make national parks and reserves a matter of national environmental significance

Open letter to Tony Burke MP, Minister for Environment

Dear Tony,

Please ensure our National Parks are protected from destructive practices such as mining, logging and grazing across Australia.  This is an issue of critical importance.

National parks are the cornerstone of our conservation effort. They protect not just native plants and animals, but whole ecosystems. They also provide clean water, air and opportunities for rest, recreation and respite for millions of Australians and visitors alike.

But despite their title, the national (Australian) government has very little to do with most national parks at present.

State governments across Australia are talking about offering up our national parks for logging, grazing, mining, large-scale tourism developments and other destructive practices for short-term political or commercial gain.

The damage this would cause would last for generations. The Federal Government needs to act now, in this session of Parliament, to protect our national parks and reserves system.

I ask that as a matter of urgency and in order to stop destructive logging, grazing and mining in national parks, that you please table the necessary legislation under the EPBC Act to make national parks and reserves a matter of national environmental significance.

This would be a truly great legacy for nature and national parks.

External links

• Make national parks and reserves a matter of national environmental significance, Victorian National Parks Association (you can send a similar letter from here)

Julia Gillard please protect the places we love

Open letter to Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia

Dear Prime Minister, Environmental laws safeguard our way of life. They protect our land and wildlife, and ensure that our air and water are not polluted by destructive development.

I am deeply concerned that under pressure from industry, federal and state governments have recently announced an aggressive plan to wind back critical environmental protection laws that protect our land, water and wildlife.

History has shown us that the Federal government has a critical role in protecting matters of national environmental significance, which it must not abdicate.

Short-sighted development proposals, supported by the states, have threatened Australia’s natural heritage many times in the past. The federal government has had to step in to prevent irreversible harm to our iconic landscapes and wildlife.

A healthy environment is essential to the Australian way of life. Due to unrestrained development our environmental assets are in a state of decline, we need stronger environmental laws not weaker ones.

I call on you to reject the proposals laid out in the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agenda that would fast-track the transfer of federal approval powers to state governments, wind back the Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act and allow states and territories to fast-track major development projects.

Peter Campbell

Links

• Take Action | Protect Our Laws Sign petition and send letter to Julia Gillard