Jobs hope in oil, gas hunt along coastline

Alex de Vos
An energy company could be drilling for oil and gas off the region’s coastline within two years after conducting seismic testing this week, according to the organisation’s managing director.
The testing has alarmed local environmentalists who fear seismic analysis could injure marine animals.
Trident Energy’s Walter Dewe said the survey involved running a three-kilometre cable below the sea’s surface to produce a map of potential mining sites.
He said the cable, which sits six to eight metres underwater, released sound waves that travelled down the water column and bounced back to reveal features under the seabed.
“We think there is a moderate chance this work will help us better define where there could be oil and gas,” Mr Dewe said.
Trident is searching an area of 2600 square kilometres, beginning around 5km offshore and running from Queenscliff and the Mornington Peninsula down the Surf Coast to Apollo Bay.
Trident scheduled the hunt to begin this week and finish on the weekend or by Tuesday.
The last seismic study off the Surf Coast was in 1990.
“We’re not repeating but filling in the gaps – we thought it could have been done better,” Mr Dewe said.
He believed a “positive” result would lead to economic benefits for the region.
“If this work produces a positive response there is a possibility a well could be drilled offshore in a couple of years, which would create jobs,” he said.
“There are a lot of positives in this.”
Mr Dewe said the energy company had consulted with all the region’s “major” fishing organisations and individuals before conducting the survey.
But Geelong Environment Council president Joan Lindros said she was concerned about the impact of seismic testing on marine life, in “particular” the southern right whale.
“I think it hasn’t been proven that there’s no effect on marine life,” Ms Lindros said.
Mr Dewe dismissed environmentalists’ concerns, labelling the seismic study “the least-risky part of offshore operations”.
“There are the same risks with any other boats that sail up and down Bass Strait,” Mr Dewe said.
“If we spot a whale within two kilometres, we power down the sonic source to a minimum level and if we spot a whale within 500 metres we switch it off.”