A RALLY to oppose the AGL gas import and Kawasaki hydrogen export projects in Western Port will be held at the Fred Smith Reserve, Hastings foreshore, 1pm, Sunday 1 July.
The Crib Point AGL gas import project and the Kawasaki Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain pilot project have raised community concerns over the environmental, social and economic risks they pose to the values of Western Port, rally organisers say.
Save Westernport and Westernport and Peninsula Protection Council are hosting the rally supported by Environment Victoria, Victorian National Parks Association and Blue Wedges Coalition.
The Crib Point AGL floating regasification project aims to ship LNG from around the world to a floating storage and regasification unit, while the Kawasaki coal-to-hydrogen pilot project will ship hydrogen from Hastings to Japan.
“The project is a short-term measure that has long-term consequences for the environment and the local economy and potentially threatens the safety of the local community,” Save Westernport spokesperson Louise Page said.
“There are community concerns over the risk to the high natural values of Western Port Bay as being an internationally significant Ramsar site, providing critical habitat for migratory birds, and being home to one of the most southerly extents of mangrove species globally.
“The project has also been criticised by Victorian and federal government ministers as being illogical, short sighted and a symptom of a broken gas market and should not go ahead.
“Continuing to invest in the dying fossil fuel industry is an equally bad decision at a time when we need to be investing more in rapidly transitioning to the growing market of renewable energy.
“The risk from the increased development and shipping will threaten the high conservation and economic values that Western Port provides.”
First published in the Western Port News – 26 June 2018
