Environment Victoria statement on Beach Energy

Today the Victorian Government approved Beach Energy’s plan to pipe gas from an offshore gas field in the Otway Basin near Port Campbell – the first time a licence has been granted in Victoria since 2014.

In response to this announcement, Dr Kat Lucas-Healey, Environment Victoria’s Senior Climate and Energy Advisor said:

“Beach Energy’s new drilling site will pipe gas under the iconic Twelve Apostles, risking one of our environmental drawcards for less than a year’s gas supply.”

“Victoria needs to get off expensive, polluting gas and we don’t do that by drilling new fields. Gas will be responsible for more than a third of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 if we don’t urgently electrify.”

“All-electric homes are cheaper, far better for our health and climate, and available now. With a new Victorian wind farm and two new Victorian solar farms completed today that’s an immediate win for our pockets and the climate.”