The Senate Inquiry into Seismic Testing to sit at Terrigal on March 17, with Inquiry Chair, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, set to address a community meeting at Umina the night before.
While seismic testing has been abandoned in waters off the region’s coastline, Save Our Coast’s Natasha Deen said that the Inquiry’s Gosford visit was still vitally important.
“Until we have legislation in place, we are at the mercy of fossil fuel companies, who can request more seismic blasting at any time,” Deen said.
“It is time we stopped this inhumane and tortuous blasting for fossil fuels that harms marine animals and devastates our living ocean.
“This inquiry is long overdue, and it is finally an opportunity for the science and community concerns to be heard.
“It is a known scientific fact that underwater noise does have an impact on marine animals, and in fact humans, not just impacting on hearing, but causing physical trauma, as recognised by the United Nations and numerous experts, and this is supported by peer reviewed academic scientific literature.”
Greens MLC, Abigail Boyd, said recent testing on Lake Macquarie had been a major concern.
“The Greens stand with the community against the continuous harm inflicted by coal companies on our environment and condemn the lack of respect shown to Lake Macquarie residents by (Centennial Coal’s) failure to adequately consult,” she said.
Animal Justice Party, Hunter Valley Regional Group Leader, Darren Brollo, said the party “categorically opposes” all forms of seismic testing.
“We must do all we can to raise community awareness of the disastrous impact that seismic testing will have on our marine ecology,” he said.
Chair of the Senate Inquiry, Senator Peter Whish Wilson, said scientific research into the effects of seismic testing had so far been inadequate.
“What we have here is a multi-trillion dollar industry, an industry that has been exploring for oil and gas for the last 50 years or so, and yet there’s been virtually no scientific research into the effects of seismic testing on marine life and commercial fisheries,” he said.
“The issue was first raised with me by commercial snapper fishermen in 2013, when I first became a Senator.
“They said that once they were allowed back to fish after a round of seismic testing, they found ‘there were no fish there any more.
“When I looked into it, I was told by the Government at the time that there was no evidence that seismic air blasts have a negative impact on marine life.
“They were right, there was no evidence, because there was no research.”
Sen Whish Wilson will be the keynote speaker at a community gathering on Monday, March 16, at Umina SLSC prior to the Inquiry sitting the following day.
The evening will celebrate the “community’s collective win” with Advent Energy withdrawing plans to conduct seismic testing in the PEP 11 zone earlier this year, and to support the Senate Inquiry.
The Senate Inquiry will be held at Terrigal Crowne Plaza on Tuesday, March 17, and is open for community viewing.
Save Our Coast will be presenting community concerns on the day.
Source:
Media release, Mar 3
Save Our Coast, Natasha Deen; Central Coast Greens MP, Abigail Boyd; Senator Peter Whish Wilson; Animal Justice Party Hunter, Darren Brollo