Company says only Lower Hunter coast affected
There would be no gas mining in the waters off the Northern Beaches if PEP-11 goes ahead, Advent Energy has told a NSW committee.
The company is re-applying for permission to continue gas exploration in the waters of the NSW coast through its wholly owned subsidiary Asset Energy.
The controversial PEP-11 licence previously granted to the company has arisen in State Parliament, following attempts by Pittwater MP Rory Amon to introduce a bill which tries to stop off-shore petroleum activities in NSW. The Minerals Legislation Amendment (Offshore Drilling and Associated Infrastructure Prohibition) Bill 2023 was sent to committee in June, with 49 submissions received.
In its submission, Advent Energy says NSW has a ‘critical looming gas shortfall’ and must further explore known gas fields in order to cater for future demand. Further, it only intends to explore the coastal waters off the Lower Hunter and has no intention of drilling within 100 kilometres of Sydney beaches.
“While the permit’s current boundaries do reach as far south as 30 kilometres offshore from Manly, Advent Energy has made clear that the company has no intention of conducting activity in the southern portion of the permit area,” Advent said.
There is doubt over whether other parties will support the Liberal-led bill, with some submissions questioning whether it could actually stop PEP-11. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), which opposes off-shore mining, told the committee in evidence on 9 October that off-shore mining activities such as seismic blasting could still occur under the bill. “We do not consider the bill to be the legislative solution to stopping PEP-11,” the ACMS’ Louise Morris told the committee.
Even Surfrider Foundation Northern Beaches said in its submission that amendments needed to be made to ensure the bill was not overridden by the Commonwealth. Surfriders argued against coastal mining, saying it would impact on ‘sensitive marine environments, commercial and recreational fishing and coastal lifestyles’.
Advent Energy was adamant that there was no ‘environmental, safety or other reason to prevent exploration and production occurring in Federal waters offshore of the state’.
The committee will table a report on its findings on 21 November. Ultimately, Federal Minister for Resources Madeleine King will have the final say on the PEP-11 licence.