Hunter fishermen fear seismic testing will hurt industry

BY JARROD MELMETH

Local fishermen fear a lot of dead fish will be the fallout of seismic testing being conducted off the coast of Newcastle.

In January, Asset Energy was given the tick of approval by the Commonwealth regulator to blast the ocean floor about 30km off the coast. 

Newcastle Commercial Fishermen's Co-operative general manager Robert Gauta said the impacts to marine life have been proven by past testing.

"When they did this last time in 2010, we found that the ground that they tested was devastated, so the fish either moved away or the ones that were there died and some of the smell that came up with the nets was from the decomposing flesh," Mr Gauta said.

Meanwhile, world-famous sand sculptor Dennis Massoud will join the third protest in a month on Tuesday where he will construct sand-sculptured dolphins on Nobbys Beach as a symbolic gesture of the potential effects of seismic testing to marine life.

Event organiser Liss Finney said the group is trying to build as much momentum as they can before the next stages of testing begin.

"For Asset, this is just phase one with 2D testing. The next step for them is 3D testing which, is actually much more destructive and affects a greater area and then from then on, that is when the licencing for the oil and petroleum exploration happen," Ms Finney said.
 

Demonstrators at last Saturday's protest. Photo: The Newcastle Herald.

The Fight To Save Our Coastline

BY TYLER FARDELL


When the proposal for Advent Energy to conduct seismic testing off the coast of Newcastle was approved by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority, many residents and councillors were left shocked and disappointed.

Gas drilling has been a dirty subject for a while after it was shown how much damage has been done to our Great Barrier Reef and oceans health.

But now Advent Energy has been given the all clear to proceed with testing along the Hunter's coastline, much to the displeasure of Greens Councillor John Mackenzie.

"This is very much a backwards step", he said. "Drilling for gas here would be a burden on the community, economy and the environment".

Cr Mackenzie will be pushing for Newcastle City Council to request help from either the State or Federal Governments at a council meeting this Tuesday.

"No-one in Newcastle wants to see our pristine coastline ruined and it's important council takes a stance that reflects this".

Chevron Wheatstone Oil Rig in West Australia
Photo source; The West Australian

Fears over marine seismic test

BY RACHEL STORER

Bar Beach (Image: Newcastle Council)

An application to conduct marine seismic tests off the coast of Newcastle has sparked concern from local fishing associations and environmental advocates. 

Advent Energy's subsidiary Asset Energy has resubmitted a plan to send acoustic pulses into a 12.25 square-kilometre area of the ocean floor. 

The previous application was rejected by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) because it was "not reasonably satisfied that the environment plan meets the criteria."

Asset Energy said its the smallest application NOPSEMA have considered and poses an extremely low risk to commercial fishing and the environment.

NSW Greens marine and fisheries spokesperson Justin Field disagrees with Asset Energy's application and said that any exploration disrupts fish stock and marine life, including the migration patterns of whales. 

"At the end of the day, oil and gas drilling off the Sydney and Newcastle coastline is never going to be acceptable for the community and we should put an end to this project once and for all," Mr Field said.