General News
3 May, 2022
Shire approves gas site application
CORANGAMITE Shire Council approved a planning permit application for the development of land for a gas well near Port Campbell.
CORANGAMITE Shire Council approved a planning permit application for the development of land for a gas well near Port Campbell.
Councillors unanimously approved the application at the April Ordinary Meeting of Council with a strict and lengthy set of conditions.
Shire planning officer Melanie Oborne said the application was for the use and development of land for petroleum production (gas well) and associated works at Sharps Road, Port Campbell.
She said the site was previously used and developed for an exploration well which was dubbed Enterprise-1.
“The current planning permit application seeks approval to use and develop this site into an operating production well, producing gas from the offshore reservoir for input into the existing onshore Otway Gas Plant (OGP),” Ms Oborne said.
She said the gas production well would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The facility will be unmanned and operated remotely from the OGP central control room located approximately 8.5 kilometres to the north east of the well site at Waarre Road, Waarre,” Ms Oborne said.
“Personnel will conduct routine inspections of the site to perform required operations and maintenance activities."
“Inspections are expected to be undertaken during daylight hours, however, unplanned inspections or maintenance may be required at night.”
Two objections were received following public notice of the application which raised a number of key issues including:
• Amenity impacts – dust, noise and visual;
• Native vegetation impacts;
• Traffic impacts;
• Stormwater runoff and drainage;
• Environmental impact; and
• Impact on farming.
Ms Oborne said the proposed use and development was “appropriate for the site”.
“The development will not impact the scenic value of the Great Ocean Road and specific construction and operational requirements to protect amenity and the environment can be covered by permit conditions and management plans,” she said.
“The use and development will not cause unacceptable land use conflict.”
Coastal Ward Jamie Vogels said he would support the recommendations but wanted tighter controls on dust and lighting conditions.
He said the application demonstrated the proposed development could occur in a way which recognises and manages potential risks.
Cr Kate Makin also supported the planning permit application being approved.
“Significant gas resources and infrastructure are available in the Corangamite Shire which contributes to the shire’s economy and council’s local council policy seeks to facilitate development of gas processing and storage facilities,” she said.
“The proposed production well is required to facilitate the delivery of gas from an offshore reservoir to link with the Otway Gas Plant for processing and distribution to the domestic and commercial gas network."
“I understand the concerns by the landowner and the neighbours, but I feel that through the 28 conditions and sub categories that have been put on the recommendation...that this can be well monitored and controlled.”
Cr Jo Beard called on applicant, Beach Energy, to follow the conditions.
“We need Beach Energy to continue to be really good positive corporate citizens that which we know they have been in the past when our communities have worked with them,” she said.
“They have been producing projects in our area for some time now.”