Say no to PEP-11

The PEP-11 project, a proposed new offshore gas project is ‘’pending’’ a decision - the community must urge the Albanese government to stick to their word, and reject the shocking industrialisation of our stunning oceans, which will impact the Central Coast.

30 March 2023

 

PEP11 is short for Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 - an oil and gas company’s shocking plans to drill into our ocean for fossil fuels off the NSW coast, all the way from Manly, through the Central Coast to Newcastle.

 

The PEP11 licence, if renewed, would allow seismic blasting and drilling for gas within 5.5km of the NSW shoreline, threatening migration routes of humpback whales.

 

Grassroots groups including Save Our Coast and Surfrider Foundation have been fighting to stop PEP11 since 2018. Recently, the courts overruled the former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison’s decision to reject the proposal, and now this polluting project licence is again up for review. When in opposition, Prime Minister Albanese said the ALP were dead against the proposed PEP11 offshore gas project going ahead.

 

When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Central Coast, prior to the 2022 Federal election he said “We will stop PEP-11 going ahead, full stop. Exclamation mark. No question. Not equivocal. No ifs, no buts…”

 

Right now, the community has the opportunity to hold the government to this promise to reject PEP11 - no New Gas starts with PEP11, and starts with the Central Coast Community.

 

Offshore drilling for oil and gas poses significant environmental risk. The threat of oil spills and gas leaks can have permanent damaging effects on marine and coastal ecosystems. A devastating reminder of this was the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, which resulted in severe devastation to marine and coastal wildlife.

 

The recently released IPCC assessment is a final scientific warning for countries to take immediate action.5 UN Secretary General António Guterres went so far as to call for the immediate cessation of “all licensing or funding of new oil and gas…and stopping any expansion of existing oil and gas reserves”.

 

The Albanese government must urgently introduce climate policies that rapidly cut emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C – a critical threshold for the oceans. Rejecting any further fossil fuel projects, like PEP11 - is fundamental to slowing global warming, and preserving our way of life.

 

Right now the government has the power to stop the approval and development of PEP11. Add your name to send an email to the Minister for Resources, Hon Madeline King, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to urge them to protect our coastlines and marine life, and ensure we have healthy oceans for future generations.

 

Together, the community can stop the dirty industrialisation of our coasts because No New Gas starts here. Add your name to the petition here.