Save Westernport

On 12 June 2019, Save Westernport supporters travelled from Hastings to Melbourne to meet AGL CEO Brett Redman in person.

Brett Redman was a guest presenter at the 2019 Australian Energy Week Conference 11-14 June at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre.

It seemed an opportune time to remind Mr Redman about AGL’s lack of social licence for their proposed floating gas import and processing terminal and associated pipeline from Crib Point to Pakenham. 

Environment Victoria and Save Westernport decided it was a perfect time to present the 17,000+ signature strong “NO AGL GAS” petition and organised a bus from Hastings to the CBD.

An invitation was sent to the energy giant’s CEO asking him to meet Westernport residents outside the conference to receive the petition after his “Helping customers and community through energy transition” speech.

This request was declined. However, subsequent discussions between AGL and Save Westernport secured a private meeting with Brett the same day at 8am with Save Westernport’s Louise Page.

AGL also provided a day pass to the conference so Louise could attend the conference presentation.

So, armed with letters to Mr Redman from 10 year old Dashi Roller and another from Federal Member for Flinders, Greg Hunt MP, Jono La Nauze (CEO Environment Victoria) and Louise met Kelly Parkinson (Senior Manager Project Engagement ) and joined the AGL CEO to articulate your concerns face to face.

Our message of overwhelming opposition and disappointment that AGL is continuing on this path of damage and detriment for Westernport and in full knowledge of our climate emergency was delivered succinctly.

A reminder about the recent stand by all the Federal election candidates for Flinders served to confirm everything we had to say.

Mr Redman responded by letting us know that he is well aware of our concerns, is not in “a vacuum” and receives regular updates about the opposition to the project.

He also said that there is a supply issue and that AGL would not be undertaking capital expenditure of this magnitude without the need.

(Could that need be continued profit not just in the gas sector but also their electricity income stream? Ergo the two new gas fired electricity generators in SA and NSW?)

Mr Redman also said that Greg Hunt MP has made his views known to him on several occasions.
Thank you, Greg.

Lastly, we let him know that we are not going away and that the community’s opposition grows daily!

URGENT! URGENT! URGENT!

Catch the bus we’ve organised (free) or meet us in Melbourne!

Save Westernport are heading to Australian Energy Week 2019 on Wednesday 12 June – see here.

We are joining Environment Victoria at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 10:00am until 11:00am – see map here.

AGL CEO Brett Redman will deliver a speech at 9:30am “Helping customers and communities through the energy transition”.

We have over 15,000 signed petitions to present to Mr Redman and call on him to drop plans for AGL’s gas import terminal in Westernport Bay.

Join us on the bus!

Our bus will be leaving Hastings at 8:00am at Westernport Marina carpark. Book your bus tickets before they are all gone here.

If you are already in Melbourne, join us at the Clarendon Street entrance near the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at 10:00am.

AGL do not have a ‘social licence’ to import and process gas in Westernport Bay!

Join us on Wednesday morning and tell Mr Redman “NO AGL GAS!”

Wow – what a crowd!

Balnarring Community Hall was filled with local residents at the latest Save Westernport public meeting.

Around 450 – 500 people attended “SOS Mayday Westernport” on 1st May 2019 to hear the latest on AGL’s proposed gas project.

See the ABC News Victoria news report here.

In attendance were a number of Federal Election candidates who expressed their support for Save Westernport and opposition to AGL.

Susie Beveridge (IND), Julia Banks (IND), Joshua Sinclair (ALP), Nathan Lesslie (Greens) and Reade Smith (Sustainable Australia) all voiced their opposition to AGL’s gas plans for Westernport Bay and signed a commitment to stop AGL’s Gas Terminal.

Current Federal Member for Flinders Hon Greg Hunt MP could not attend but a personal statement of support was delivered by local Member for Hastings Neale Burgess.

Other speakers included local mussel farmer Michael “Harry” Harris, Western Port Biosphere Executive Officer Greg Hunt (no relation) and Environment Victoria Campaigns Manager Dr. Nick Aberle. The speeches and presentations were both informative and concerning on the potential impacts that AGL’s proposed gas import terminal would have on Westernport Bay.

Many thanks to all of the Environment Victoria team for helping organise the “SOS Mayday Westernport” event in such a short time frame.

Thank you to the local residents of the Mornington Peninsula who attended for being so patient and supportive on a very memorable night in Balnarring!

The Motion that was presented and supported by the local residents is shown below:

SAVE WESTERNPORT PUBLIC MEETING MOTION

1 MAY 2019

Westernport is a rich wonderland of diverse ecosystems and home to species found nowhere else in the world. Because of its outstanding natural values, the United Nations proclaimed the Westernport region a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2002 (one of only nine in Australia). It is also listed under the Ramsar convention as a wetland of international significance and as a major site for migratory and rare birds. [1]

Given the extraordinary ecological values of Westernport, this meeting of concerned citizens in the Electorate of Flinders calls on the next Federal Government to comply with its international and national environmental obligations and use its legislative powers to stop AGL’s proposal for a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (a gas factory) at Crib Point and accompanying pipeline through public reserves and prime agricultural land to Pakenham.

We also call on the Victorian State Government to safeguard this precious region for the economic and environmental benefit of future generations and reject the planning application by AGL.

Approval of this project will unnecessarily sacrifice the Westernport region for AGL’s profit. It will not provide a secure domestic gas supply at affordable prices.

The AGL Board knows they do not have a social licence for this proposal and we ask them to respect the widespread and vehement opposition and withdraw their proposal, forthwith.  AGL’s strategy to “manage community outrage” shows a disregard for our genuine concerns and together, we vow to maintain and intensify our outrage and our campaign until the proposal is abandoned.

[1] Based on City of Casey, ‘A description of Westernport’, https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/facilities-hire/western-port-bay

AGL and APA have a new survey available for local residents to raise their concerns and and ask questions about the Gas Import Jetty and Pipeline project.

The survey may be found here.

The closing date for this survey is Sunday 31st March 2019.

Under the Environment Effects Act 1978, all public comment from the community must be formally collected, recorded and considered by AGL and APA during the consultation period.

Issues raised by the community will also be presented to the Technical Reference Group (TRG) – a group of local councils and state government agencies (e..g EPA, WorkSafe, Parks Victoria).

The TRG will review all AGL/APA technical studies and provide advice for the Environment Effects Statement (EES) to ensure potential impacts to the environment and human health are properly addressed.

Save Westernport strongly encourages all local residents to submit questions to AGL and APA about any aspect of the project that concerns them.