#STOPPEP11

#STOPPEP11

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Surfrider Australia stands against PEP11 and the development of offshore gas between Sydney and Newcastle. 

 

Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 covers 4500 square kilometres stretching along the coast between Newcastle and Sydney and out to the continental shelf. The permit is licensed to a joint venture between Advent Energy and Bounty Oil and Gas, who have already conducted years of seismic testing and have several prospect drilling areas already identified. They are pushing ahead with plans to drill exploratory wells as early as 2021. 

 

The PEP 11 zone is within sight of the coastline between Newcastle and Sydney. If developed, gas ...

Surfrider Australia stands against PEP11 and the development of offshore gas between Sydney and Newcastle. 

 

Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 covers 4500 square kilometres stretching along the coast between Newcastle and Sydney and out to the continental shelf. The permit is licensed to a joint venture between Advent Energy and Bounty Oil and Gas, who have already conducted years of seismic testing and have several prospect drilling areas already identified. They are pushing ahead with plans to drill exploratory wells as early as 2021. 

 

The PEP 11 zone is within sight of the coastline between Newcastle and Sydney. If developed, gas rigs could be seen along the horizon. PEP 11 is the only offshore oil and gas exploration permit off the NSW coast, and the fact it sits directly off Australia’s largest, most iconic city speaks to the super charged development of gas in Australia. 

 

While gas companies cry about a gas shortage, the reality is that Australia is awash with natural gas. We are the largest exporter of natural gas in the world, exporting three-quarters of the gas we extract. In the absence of an east coast domestic gas reserve policy however, the gas companies have been able to chase profits overseas at the expense of the local market. The cheap gas is exported; the expensive gas remains in Australia. Farcically, we’ve even had to import back the same gas we exported. There is no gas shortage, just a system where the gas companies have been able to chase profits and push for gas development we don’t need. 

 

Last year the people of the Australian coast paddled out en masse to make it clear they didn’t want offshore oil development in the Great Australian Bight, and they certainly don’t want gas rigs sitting out off the coast of Sydney, the Central Coast or Newcastle. This is gas we don’t need, from the last place in Australia you would ever consider putting a gas rig. The coastline between Sydney and Newcastle belongs to the people, not to the oil and gas companies. Seismic testing kills marine life. Drilling is risky. Developing more fossil fuels at a time we should be transitioning away simply adds to the problems future generations will face. 

 

Surfrider Australia stands against new offshore oil and gas development. We want clean coasts and climate action. We want swell on the horizon. Not gas rigs. 

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EMAIL YOUR MP TO STOP PEP11!!

Tell your local MP why they need to add their voice to stop the PEP11 permit being renewed, and beyond that to have PEP 11 scrapped permanently. 

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