Gas rigs mean fish and jobs

Forum –

I notice that (Federal Opposition Leader) Anthony Albanese was here trying to restore the image of his party in the aftermath of the Labor-dominated Council spendathon.

He also took the opportunity to join the anti- PEP 11 campaigners, but it would help them all to be taken much more seriously if his and many of their concerns had more (or, in some cases, any) credibility.

A simple example … every fisherman knows structure means fish.

Platforms are islands of life in an often barren sea floor.

There are dozens of gas platforms, many there for over 50 years, located off seaside resorts such as Great Yarmouth on the UK’s East Coast; impact on tourism negligible if at all.

There is a need for job creation in the area and with the decline of coal, there is a ready-made base for supply vessels at Newcastle.

Also, local engineering support worth millions (as no work or equipment is cheap in the offshore environment).

Following the strident objections to the sinking of the naval ship which proved to be groundless and having worked on many gas platforms, I am simply putting forward an alternative view and stating again that many of the objections would be dismissed out of hand by any serious review panel.

Email, Feb 20
Alan Coulson, Umina Beach