Queensland residents are making the journey to Geelong to share a warning about the impacts of a potential gas terminal for Corio Bay.
Geelong West Town Hall will host Australia’s Gas Problem: Learning from Gladstone and Geelong public meeting from 6pm to 8pm on Monday 13 October.
The meeting, regarding the proposed Viva Energy Gas Import terminal, will bring people from Geelong together with residents from Queensland’s Gladstone region.
Environment Victoria senior climate and energy advisor Dr Kat Lucas-Healey said Gladstone residents would share first-hand accounts of the lasting damage caused by dredging (removal of parts of the sea floor).
“Viva Energy’s Gas Import Terminal is a huge step backwards in light of the progress already made to reduce Victoria’s gas demand,” she said.
“Switching from old gas appliances to efficient electric ones saves households money, slashes our climate pollution and makes importing expensive, polluting gas unnecessary.
“Importing LNG (liquefied natural gas) will supercharge climate pollution from Victoria’s gas use because of the extra fossil fuels burnt and methane leakage in liquefying, shipping and regasifying.”
Geelong Renewables Not Gas community organiser Lauren Dillon said more than 1500 hectares of seagrass was destroyed during dredging in Gladstone and that “Geelong deserves better”.
“Geelong deserves a clean energy future, not imported gas that could threaten marine life, increase emissions and threaten the local community,” she said.
