Make a submission: Published response
Published name
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Bonaparte Basin areas
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Browse Basin areas
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Northern Carnarvon Basin areas
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Perth Basin areas
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Otway Basin areas
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Bass Basin areas
Please provide comments on how the release of the areas in this region may impact you
Refer to submission
Gippsland Basin areas
Please provide any general comments you may have on the potential areas for the 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release
Refer to submission attached
If you have a supporting document you wish to include, please upload it here
29 June 2023
Department of Industry, Science and Resources via email: GHGacreage@industry.gov.au
Dear Sir/Madam
2023 OFFSHORE GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACREAGE RELEASE – WELLINGTON
SHIRE COUNCIL SUBMISSION
Thank you for the opportunity for Wellington Shire Council (Council) to lodge a submission to the 2023 Offshore Greenhouse Gas Storage Acreage Release.
Wellington Shire context
The 2021-2025 Wellington Shire Council Plan identifies that climate change is the biggest challenge and priority facing the Wellington Shire. Accordingly, the Council Plan supports a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the declaration of Bass Strait as the first area in
Australia declared suitable for offshore wind investment.
Key issues
Council has no objection to the acreage release initiative in the Gippsland basin, subject to appropriate consultation with relevant users and stakeholders (including Gunaikurnai Land and
Waters Aboriginal Corporation) and carefully regulated exploration activities in support of potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) opportunities.
As the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (the ‘Department’) will be aware, there are significant oil and gas assets and extraction areas in this locality, which provide future opportunity for CCS to help respond to climate change. The Department will also be aware of the CarbonNet Project which is seeking to establish a commercial scale CCS network in
Gippsland.
Bass Strait has recently been declared by the Commonwealth Government as the first area in the country suitable for offshore wind investment, with part of the declared area overlapping with the acreage release extent. Council would be concerned if significant scale offshore wind investment was detrimentally affected. It will be important that future activities associated with potential CCS and offshore wind investment be carefully managed by Commonwealth regulators to allow for co-existence.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, Council has no objection to the acreage release process in the Gippsland basin, subject to appropriate consultation and regulatory control, in particular to allow for co- existence with planned offshore wind investment.
Yours sincerely
CHRIS HASTIE
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Offshore region