Seismic testing in the Bay of Islands Coastal Park

A decision made in May 2010 to allow petroleum exploration in Victoria's Bay of Islands Coastal Park has set a dangerous precedent for further gas and oil exploration within the state's national and other parks.

The Bay of Islands Coastal Park protects 950 hectares of fragile coastal vegetation and unique wildlife as well as offshore islands and rock stacks

There are environmental concerns in relation to the impacts on marine species from seismic testing, as well as distrubances to beach dwelling Hooded Plovers and Orange-Bellied parrots. Potential damage to the park's ecological and geological values is also of concern.

Bay of Islands Coastal Park.

Victoria's Bay of Islands Coastal Park protects fragile coastal vegetation, unique wildlife and offshore islands and rock stacks. Photo: Geoffrey Crane - flickr

There is no clearing proposed of the fragile coastal vegetation during the seismic testing activities, but this will need to be confirmed in any associated management plan.

A loophole in the National Parks Act allows petroleum exploration even though new mining leases are banned.

Victoria's environment minister Gavin Jennings made the decision in late May.

The VNPA will be keeping a watching brief on this exploration permit, and continue to highlight our conviction that parks are for people and nature, not for oil and gas wells or mines.

The Origin Energy project has now been referred under the EPBC Act, with the submission period now closed.

Download Bay of Islands issues paper
Download VNPA submission in response to this proposal