Oppose oil drilling at Margaret River

A campaign is underway to stop the oil drilling proposed for Margaret River. Pictured is an outreach action in Perth on 3 June 2010. There was also a rally in Margaret River on 8 May. Below is a media release from the Conservation Council from 17 May 2010.

NEW MARGARET RIVER OIL LEASE RISKS SW MARINE LIFE

Against the backdrop of the worsening Louisiana Oil spill, Resources Minister Martin Ferguson has ignored a sustained community backlash and approved the new Margaret River Oil lease, putting at risk unique marine life in WA’s southwest.

In the month since the Conservation Council uncovered plans for the new oil lease just 83kms from Margaret River in an area under consideration for marine sanctuaries; over 250 people have rallied in Margaret River, 1850 people have written letters to Minister Ferguson, the local ALP candidate has written an open letter opposing the development and Greens Senator Rachel Siewert has opposed the move through a disallowance motion in Federal Parliament.

The new lease comes less than a year since Australia’s own devastating oil spill in northwest WA at the Montara Oil Field. The inquiry into the spill is still underway.

Conservation Council Marine Coordinator Tim Nicol said, “Within days of the Lousiana Oil Spill President Obama had cancelled all new offshore drilling, but now after our own Montara oil spill we see new oil leases in proposed marine sanctuaries.”

“Up to 90% of the marine life in the southwest is unique, and half the worlds whale and dolphin species use the region; this new oil lease in an area that has been identified for its high conservation value puts our unique marine life at risk.”

“For example, if the Montara oil spill had happened in the southwest, we could have seen oil on the beaches from Perth to Margaret River.”

The Conservation Council has also used a CSIRO pollution model to track where oil from a spill in the new lease would move. Under real ocean wind and wave conditions measured by the CSIRO, there is a high probability oil would reach beaches in the southwest.

“The Conservation Council condemns this move by Minister Ferguson and calls on the Government to ensure protection of our unique southwest marine life by establishing a network of large marine sanctuaries in commonwealth waters off our southwest.”

“Currently less than 1% of WA’s marine life is protected. Marine sanctuaries provide important marine habitats a buffer from the impacts of smaller oil spills, seismic activity and drilling, and provide a safe haven for our unique marine life to survive and thrive into the future.”

[17 May 2010. Ph Tim Nicol 0422 235 774]