Copyright 2001 The Guardian
August 18, 2001
By Patrick Barkham in Sydney

Moves to begin oil exploration just 30 miles east of the Great Barrier Reef were condemned as "grotesque" by environmentalists yesterday.

The Australian government has called for an environmental impact assessment of seismic oil exploration by the US-based company TGS-NOPEC Geophysical. If the search gains approval, laws automatically permit extraction of any oil found.

"It's a disastrous ecological accident waiting to happen if it is approved," said Don Henry, executive director of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), adding that the reef is worth more via tourism than any oilfield.

The ACF called for an extension of the ban on exploration and production of oil, minerals and gas in the Great Barrier Reef marine park to all Australian waters east of the reef, to protect the ecosystems.

The proposed search area lies between several smaller reef systems off northern Queensland and the popular Whitsunday Islands, a distance from the Great Barrier Reef that Mr Henry described as "an overnight ride for an oil spill in a strong breeze".

Even if oil was not found, the search, involving 50 days of intensive underwater detona tions, could harm the fragile ecosystem. Seismic blasts damage the internal organs of endangered sea turtles and humpback whales, which calve in the exploration area. The final decision rests with the Australian government, the strongest supporter of the US refusal to sign the Kyoto Treaty.

"The concept that you can have an environmentally friendly oil exploration and production is a grotesque fantasy," said Greenpeace's Corin Millais. "The oil that we've already dug up and are burning will probably kill the reef in 20-30 years. Drilling for further oil is dancing on the grave of our already dying piece of nature." Error: Unable to read footer file.