Regulator rejects fifth gas exploration seismic testing project in Victoria

Protestors gathered at Port Fairy's South Beach in July last year

A major gas exploration proposal for the Southern Ocean has become the fifth proposal of its kind to be rejected by the offshore regulator since 2012, after sustained opposition from south-west Victorian communities and environmental organisations.

CGG Services submitted its Regia 3D Marine Seismic Survey (MSS) proposal in 2024, seeking approval to conduct seismic testing in waters from Port Campbell to beyond Port Fairy in Victoria.

The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) rejected CGG's environmental plan five times, the most recent early this year. A NOPSEMA spokesperson said the company's plan did not meet the criteria of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage [Environment] Regulations.

Coastal communities and environmental organisations that have been fighting the proposal and others like it have breathed a sigh of relief, but advocates warn "the threat is far from over."

The decision comes two months after the Australian government approved the opening of 2.5 million hectares of the Southern Ocean to offshore gas exploration.

Community members like those in Victoria’s Port Fairy turned out in large numbers to protest seismic testing, also known as seismic blasting, for years in south-west Victoria. They cited concerns about the impacts on marine life, including endangered whales and say CGG Services, or another company could submit a new seismic testing proposal for the same area.

Locals and organisations have been calling for a blanket ban on the activity, which involves penetrating the seabed with loud sounds through an air gun, then analysing the soundwaves to form a picture of what lies beneath.

There are multiple oil and gas projects currently slated for development in western Victoria's Otway Basin. This 500-kilometre-long stretch of sea floor extends from Cape Jaffa in South Australia to north-west Tasmania. In places, it's up to 5,000 metres deep. Media reports estimate that at least 130 seismic testing proposals have been submitted to the offshore regulator in this time.

Some of the nation's most-loved tourist locations lie at its margins – the Surf Coast, King Island, Port Fairy and Robe, Twelve Apostles, the Great South West Walk and Great Ocean Walk, to name a few.

Ben Druitt, a Port Fairy resident and Fight for the Bight campaigner, said NOPSEMA's decision to reject the plan set "a real precedent. For years, communities were told that this seismic project wasn't a question of 'if', only 'how?' and 'when?'," he said.

NOPSEMA can ask companies to revise and resubmit environmental plans as many times as necessary before making a final decision. This can lead to thousands of hours spent by volunteers like Druitt going over various revisions of plans, searching for errors or shortcomings.

"When nearly all offshore proposals proceed, a refusal like this matters," Mr Druitt said. "It shows standard science and scrutiny carry real weight. The outcome reflects sustained efforts from communities, councils, citizen science, [and] Indigenous custodians standing for sea country,” he said.

"Seismic blasting on our coastline is not something that has social licence, is not something we'll accept and so this decision by NOPSEMA … to back up our communities is a huge win and something we should all be proud of."

Read the full story by the ABC here.