Great Ocean Road – another whale hotspot in peril

More critical blue whale habitat is under threat from oil and gas exploration. WHL Energy wants to explore over 1,000 km²of water offshore from Warrnambool and Port Campbell, Victoria, along the Great Ocean Road. This area is at the eastern edge of the Bonney Upwelling where blue whales come to feed every year between November and April. In May, heavily pregnant endangered southern right whales migrate through the area on the way to their famous calving grounds off the coast of Warrnambool and return back through the area with their new calves in October/November.

Tell Environment Minister, Tony Burke, you want to see critical habitats for two of Australia’s most endangered whales protected from oil and gas exploration.

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Hon. Tony Burke MP
Environment Minister

Dear Minister Burke,

I am writing to you to express my concerns regarding oil and gas exploration off the coast of Warrnambool and Port Campbell. This is a region of critical importance to endangered whales, particularly blue and southern right whales, and to Great Ocean Road tourism and fishing communities. Southern right whales are integral to land-based whale-watching for which Warrnambool is known and which an IFAW report in 2011 showed was worth $2.6 million in tourism revenue to the region, attracting over 37,000 visitors a year.

I do not believe this area should have been opened up for oil and gas exploration, and especially without any community consultation. This area and its marine life are simply too precious. However, I understand that WHL Energy has submitted a referral under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act for its seismic survey plans in the area (referral number 2012/6683).

I do not believe WHL Energy’s plans as outlined in the referral adequately protect endangered whales in the region. The referral misinterprets blue whale research in the area to suggest only low numbers will be found in the region in April, when in fact that research shows for blue whales in the region in April there is a high probability they will be in the proposed seismic survey area. It also does not take into account that southern right whales may be migrating through the proposed seismic survey area during the proposed timings for the survey. These could be heavily pregnant females if the survey takes place in April-May, or mothers with newborn calves if the survey takes place in November-December. The southeast population of southern right whales are not recovering from commercial whaling in the past and any impact on their breeding cycle could have serious long-term effects on the population.

The referral has also not adequately assessed the likely abundance or distribution of other whale species in the region and the risk to these animals. WHL Energy has not undertaken any long-term biodiversity surveys to establish sufficient baseline data about species abundance and distribution in the proposed seismic survey area. On this basis alone, such information should be sought before any application is allowed to proceed, as has been the case with the super trawler. As you said regarding the super trawler, “environmental decisions should be based on sound science and quality information”.

Noise pollution from the survey may also pose a risk to commercially fished species, such as squid and rock lobster, which are vital for the local community. These are particularly active fisheries at the proposed times of year for the seismic survey yet fishers will be excluded from the area during the seismic survey.

I do not support oil and gas exploration activities in such a precious marine environment and would prefer to see WHL Energy’s plans rejected outright. At the very least, WHL Energy’s activities should be deemed a 'Controlled Action' under the EPBC Act assessment process so that a higher level of environmental assessment can be conducted which allows the community to have a say. The risks to marine life and the subsequent impacts on the local fisheries and ecotourism industries deserve much more detailed examination.

I have copied these comments to the EPBC referrals division and wish these comments to be taken into consideration during the assessment process.

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Great Ocean Road – another whale hotspot in peril

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