Port Macquarie-Hastings joins national push back of planned oil drilling by Equinor

About 100 people attended a paddle out at Lighthouse Beach while about 30 people were on Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills.

They were joined by thousands of people across Australia in a simultaneous protest.

Equinor's country manager for Australia Jone Stangeland said the company is aware a number of paddle outs were held in various locations on the weekend.

"We are not surprised that there is a public discussion about exploration in the Bight; it is natural that energy matters are subject to public debate and we see similar discussions in many countries where we operate," Mr Stangeland said.

"But we have noted that information about our business and aspects of our plans have been misrepresented in material circulating online, particularly the risk and consequences of a highly unlikely oil spill.

"These misrepresentations, which inaccurately give the impression that impossible scenarios could happen, have led to real concerns among many people in the community.

"Equinor continues to engage with the public and so far, we have held over 400 meetings with more than 200 organisations and community stakeholders to discuss our plans and exchange views.

"These meetings have given us an opportunity to listen to people on the ground and to learn about local issues and concerns.

"We also heard many people who are excited about the business and community investment opportunities, and the jobs a discovery could bring to the region.

"We will only carry out a drilling operation in the Great Australian Bight if we can do it safely and with the approval of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA), which is Australia's independent regulator for offshore drilling," he said.

Karen Cornish organised the impromptu event on Rainbow Beach and was pleasantly surprised when around 30 people turned up to raise their concerns.

"For us it was a last minute effort but we were pleased with the response from the community," she said.

"All along the coastline there was a national day of action. I just felt that we needed to make our mark as well.

"I got involved because I have been following the Great Australian Bight Alliance on Instagram and have seen how concerned everyone is about Equinor's plans.

"We just don't want Equinor to go ahead with this drilling plan," she said.

While Equinor currently has drill sites off the Tasmanian coastline, Josh Tabone, who was at Lighthouse Beach, says the planned site in the Bight was totally different.

He said Saturday's awareness event was organised through the Port Macquarie Boardriders Association.

"We only have one earth, and we only have one country and this is our environment," he said.

"Living on the coast, we are so close to the ocean.

"This plan from Equinor to explore and drill for oil in the Bight will impact Port Macquarie if something catastrophic happens.

"Equinor's experience is drilling in very shallow waters compared with what they are planning for the Bight," he said.

"They planned site is impacted by the Roaring Forties - and all those dangerous waves associated with it. It is not the place for that type of drilling activity.

"This area off the Great Australian Bight is really pristine with migrating humpback whales; it is full of nature."

Mr Tabone said more awareness needed to be raised about the possible impact on the coastline.

"For something that could impact half of Australia, it is amazing how few people know about it," he added.

He said Australia doesn't want to risk another Deep Water Horizon, one of the most catastrophic environmental disasters ever witnessed, which took 87 days and almost five million barrels of oil pouring into the Gulf before they were able to cap the leak.

"There were 11 platform workers' lives lost, the lives of countless animals, over $100 billion dollars and the health and wellbeing of hundreds of communities.

"The Great Australian Bight coastline does not have calm beaches; it has the largest swells in the rawest ocean belting up against rugged rocks and vertical cliff faces.

"While Equinor have told us the likelihood of an oil spill has been lowered as much as possible, the risk is still too great. An oil spill will destroy not only our environment but also our economies, social wellbeing and entire way of life."

Earlier this year Equinor released their Environmental Plan (EP) to the public. There has been over 31,500 submissions (comments on the EP) sent to the regulatory body National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

Since then, Equinor have been asked to resubmit their environmental plan with more information.

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