By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
AN ONLINE petition has been launched to urge the State Government to refuse any time extension for an onshore gas exploration permit covering Highton to Anglesea.
Lakes Oil’s PEP 163 permit runs out on Sunday, although a Government moratorium on fracking is in place until the completion of a parliamentary inquiry into onshore gas.
South Barwon MP Andrew Katos initiated the petition saying the Andrews government was “likely” to extend the permit, allowing drilling for unconventional gas in “sensitive environmental” areas of Surf Coast Shire.
“The massive exploration zone covers areas of significant population growth and could put residents, local communities, farmland and our local environment at risk,” Mr Katos said.
“Large-scale gas industry and hydraulic fracking should not be part of our shire and may put at risk agriculture, tourism and water resources.
“No exploration company would willingly relinquish a licence.
“Of course they want it rolled over because it’s a long-term speculative investment.
“Even though Lakes Oil say they’re not interested at the moment, with an improvement in technology or gas price increases they could soon become interested again.”
Mr Katos urged residents to sign his online petition against drilling in the area.
Lakes Oil chairman Robert Annells slammed the petition as a dangerous precedent that risked driving industry out of the state.
Companies applied for permits for mining and petroleum with a clear intent to explore on the terms of the permit, he said.
“To change the rules halfway through is commonly called sovereign risk and if you do that you run the risk of driving industry out of the state.
“The Government has got a monitor on drilling as well as an inquiry into fracking and unconventional gas.
“Parliament has put in place an independent judge, so why not wait until we see what they say, otherwise you’re usurping the power of the body put in place by the parliament.
“It just doesn’t make sense to me.
“We can’t move on any of our permits with the moratorium and we have no intention to do anything in the short term.”
The petition is at andrewkatos.com.au/StopPep163.
