Carbon capture and storage investigation closes Victorian beach during busy holiday period
Updated
The Victorian Government has moved to reassure residents of a coastal community that a seismic survey, for its carbon capture project, is safe.
The government's CarbonNet project will use sound waves to map the sea floor off Golden Beach, in eastern Victoria, to see whether it is suitable for a carbon capture and storage project.
A scientific vessel will emit soundwaves near Golden Beach to determine whether dried-up oil wells in the Gippsland Basin are suitable for carbon capture storage.
If the area proves to be suitable it would be connected to a pipeline linked to carbon-emitting industries in the Latrobe Valley.
The beach will close for the 17-day survey during one of the town's busiest holiday periods, with a third of Golden Beach residents voicing concerns about potential economic and environmental impacts at a community meeting.
Golden Beach is popular in the fishing community, with abundant marine life.
Assurances given
CarbonNet project director Ian Filby said any effects on marine life would be temporary and operations would halt if observers spotted migrating whale and dolphin colonies.
"Seismic sound may cause some species of fish to move away from the area. Some species of fish are not impacted," he said.
A marine life study noting wildlife populations has already begun and a follow-up survey will be carried out after the seismic survey.
Residents spoke out at a community meeting, raising concerns about the proximity of the seismic survey to shore.
Throughout February, a scientific vessel will emit soundwaves near Golden Beach to determine whether dried up oil wells in the Gippsland Basin, previously used by Exxon Mobil, are suitable for carbon capture storage.
Mr Filby said if the area was found to be suitable, an injection point could be drilled seven kilometres offshore, with a pipeline linking it to carbon emitting industries in the Latrobe Valley.
The Latrobe Valley, 100 kilometres west of Golden Beach, is home to brown coal mines supplying three major power stations.
Independent information wanted
Golden Beach Ratepayers' Association president Heleena O'Sullivan said residents did not want the survey or a carbon capture storage project to happen in or near their town.
"No one wants this to happen, we're all on the same page here," Ms O'Sullivan said.
She said ineffective consultation beginning in July 2017 and a lack of online information, independent of official sources, had led to confusion among residents and property owners.
"There had been some correspondence to and from [authorities] but very minimal — nothing that anyone here could understand," Mrs O'Sullivan said.
"When we did Googling and researching and everything had a positive spin on it. Other people we're speaking to are saying the same thing."
She also criticised the use of volunteer community groups to pass on information to property owners, who largely only visit the town for brief periods or do not have a post box at their address.
Beach to be patrolled
Mr Filby said the survey vessel needed flat waters and this was the only suitable time to avoid other events in the town.
Throughout the testing period, Life Saving Victoria members will patrol the beach, to prevent people from swimming on weekdays.
Mr Filby said swimmers and dogs would likely experience discomfort if their heads were to go underwater during the testing period.
Topics: marine-parks, marine-biology, mining-industry, emissions-trading, seaspray-3851
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