A major corporation has formally applied for permission to explore for oil and gas in deep waters to the west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia.
Bight Petroleum already holds permits for the 3,000 square kilometre area known as the Kangaroo Island Canyons and Pool, and it has announced it wants to undertake seismic testing early next year and to start drilling in 2014.
Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke is now considering the proposal.
Not surprisingly, the plans have alarmed many of the island’s 4,500 residents, as well as the conservationists and tourists who have grown to love the pristine area.
Grey nomads flock to KI to enjoy its wild coastlines, beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, and local art and produce.
Opponents say the proposed oil and gas activities not far offshore would be “all risk and no gain”. They argue that even a small spill would be disastrous for the area’s rich marine life – including the Blue Whale – and would also cause irreparable damage to the local fishing and tourism industries.
“In this second decade of the 21st century, we need to take a close look at ourselves and decide what, as a society, we are willing to risk … Kangaroo Island is just too precious to lose,” said South Australian Greens Senator Penny Wright. “We need to put this special place – and its people – before the short-term interests of the resource industry.”
The Greens want the Government to revoke Bight Petroleum’s exploration permits and protect the area within a Commonwealth marine park (no oil and gas zone).
However, Bight Petroleum’s chief operating officer, Iain MacDougall, says the company has had significant consultation with fishing and environmental groups and believes its activities will have minimal effect.
“In 40 years of the exploration industry offshore working with compressed air for seismic surveys, there are no recorded incidents of any harm whatsoever to any whales, despite the emotional claims,” he told the ABC. “On board the vessel, we would have what are called marine mammal observers and we try to do the survey when the whales are known not to be there and then we also have shutdown zones, which in Australia we have to shut down if a whale comes within two kilometres of a survey vessel.”
Minister Burke’s decision on the proposal is expected within weeks.
