Crib Point gas terminal rejected over environmental concerns
1 April 2021
This week, the Minister for Planning rejected AGL’s proposed Crib Point gas import terminal, saying it would result in “unacceptable environmental effects” to the internationally significant Westernport Bay.
This is a huge win for the community who have been campaigning to save Westernport Bay for more than three years, and of course for the precious nature and wildlife that live there. EJA lawyers attended a mammoth 10 weeks of public hearings to represent our clients Environment Victoria, the Victorian National Parks Association and Save Westernport Inc. On behalf of our clients, EJA lawyers and our team of barristers made submissions, cross-examined AGL’s experts and led expert evidence to make the case that the project would have unacceptable environmental impacts.
The proposal was for a 300-metre-long floating gas import terminal off the Mornington Peninsula, which would have discharged up to 180 Olympic swimming pools of chlorinated water into Westernport every day.
The Minister’s assessment reflects the overwhelming and sustained opposition from a broad alliance of groups including scientists, residents, tourism and fishing businesses, and our clients.
This proposal should never have progressed to this stage, especially given Westernport Bay is an internationally recognised wetland under the Ramsar Convention and home to a number of endangered species.
Further decisions now sit with state ministers, state agencies and the federal government. We’ll be closely monitoring their decisions to make sure they are consistent with the Planning Minister’s assessment and the overwhelming community opposition to the project.
You can read the Minister’s Assessment here
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