Margaret River offshore drilling lease approved

Thank you to everyone involved in the Save Our Marine Life Rally on Saturday. The team did a fantastic job of pulling everything together with the Conservation Council. A special thank you to Surfrider Margaret River Branch Members Gene, Rachel, Blair, Mez, Drew, John, Steve Andrews, Simon Butler and everyone who turned up and supported and helped out.  Thanks!!

On Saturday May 8, Surfrider Foundation Margaret River Branch worked together with the Conservation Council in hosting a Rally at Reuter Park, Margaret River in WA.

Recently revealed plans to open up a massive new oil lease offshore from Margaret River prompted the Surfrider Foundation and Conservation Council of WA to join forces with local SW groups in a call for large marine sanctuaries in WA’s southwest.

The Save Our Marine Life Rally will be held at 12pm, Saturday 8th May, in Reuther Park, Margaret River and feature expert speakers and performances from local musicians.

The rally came as plans for new offshore oil development highlight the growing threat to the Southwest’s unique marine environment; Resources Minister Martin Ferguson plans to release a new oil lease at a petroleum industry conference on the 16th May. The new lease would be just 83kms offshore from Margaret River and in an area designated for assessment for future marine sanctuaries.

Drew McKenzie from Surfrider Foundation Margaret River said, “This new oil lease in an area of proposed marine parks has woken up the Southwest community.  We realize that we can no longer take a healthy ocean for granted. It is clear we need marine sanctuaries to protect our marine environment and clean beach and surf lifestyle.”

Latest – Tuesday May 18, 2010

Environmental groups have expressed disappointment over the Federal Government’s approval of a series of new offshore oil drilling leases, including one off Western Australia’s South West coast.

The Government has agreed to release 31 exploration areas to the market this year.

A site 85 kilometres off the coast of Margaret River has been approved, the same site was earmarked for a potential marine sanctuary.

The Conservation Council’s Tim Nicol says the Government has ignored community concerns.

“A lot of people are going to be quite distressed that this lease is sitting off the coast of Margaret River with the potential for an oil industry to start there any time.

“That area can no longer can become a marine sanctuary so it really ups the ante on making sure we get a network of protected areas in place before more of this sort of development comes into the region.”

Mr Nichol says any oil development in that area will put local marine life at risk.

“Up to 90 per cent of the marine life in the south west corner of Australia is unique to the region. The big risk comes from the big spills like we’ve seen recently in Louisiana and Montara.”

Other sites approved for development include the Carnarvon and Roebuck basins off the north-west coast of WA.

Michelle Grady, from the Pew Environment Group, says it is the first time such developments have been approved for areas which are also being considered for marine sanctuaries.

“So, pretty much all the areas announced today are right over the top of areas that the Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett is looking at for protection and that’s because these areas are critically important for marine life.”

This article was replicated from the ABC