ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Labor And Liberals Vote To Allow Gas Drilling Near The 12 Apostles

Labor And Liberals Vote To Allow Gas Drilling Near The 12 Apostles

The Victorian Greens are furious at the decision that could affect the huge landmark.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

The Victorian Greens has slammed the state's Labor and Liberal parties for voting to allow gas drilling near the 12 Apostles.

Beach Energy was given the green light by the state government to drill for new gas underneath Port Campbell National Park.

The area that the energy company wants to explore sits just five kilometres away from the 12 Apostles, which are a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road.

The state-owned waters run adjacent to the landmark and there have been concerns about letting a project operate so close to it.

The Greens submitted a proposal to stop the venture from going ahead, however the state government and the Victorian Liberal National Opposition voted against it.

Alamy

Deputy Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell, said in a statement: "In the middle of a climate crisis it's outrageous that the Labor Victorian Government is allowing new gas drilling off Victoria's iconic coastline.

"We need to protect our environment and precious animals by transitioning away from fossil fuels, not drilling for more of it."

She said last month that the site could be damaged.

"There's also risks to the marine environment - this is an area that is a migratory path for humpback whales and the southern wright whale," she said.

More than 11,000 people have signed an open letter launched by the Greens that calls on the state government to look at other options instead of letting Beach Energy go ahead.

It begs the Daniel Andrews-led government to abandon all forms of gas and coal mining and look toward green or sustainable methods to get energy.

"The catastrophic climate-fuelled fires raging across Europe, North America and Canada are a stark reminder of our own Black Summer of 2019/20," the letter states.

"Unless we stop mining and burning coal and gas, the climate crisis will get worse - causing more floods, droughts, heatwaves and severe bushfires, putting our way of life even more under threat.

"While your Labor Government has taken positive steps on renewable energy, this good work is being undermined by your Government's support for new gas developments.

A spokesperson for the government has previously dismissed concerns about the project and said offshore drilling was 'subject to strict environmental and safety regulations led by the national authority'.

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Australia