Geelong Sustainability is asking residents to sign a petition to Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne asking him to reject the gas import terminal proposed by Viva Energy for Corio Bay.
Viva’s proposal was the subject of a community briefing on February 24, which was attended by more than 100 people.
Event organiser Sally Fisher said the number of people who attended the briefing “exceeded our expectations and indicates significant community concern about the gas import terminal”.
The briefing covered what the proposal might mean for Geelong and Victoria’s energy, business, economic, recreation, environment and climate future.
The briefing scrutinised the Environmental Effects Statement process and discussed opportunities for the community to participate.
“Viva’s proposal takes our community in the wrong direction,” said Fisher. “Fossil fuels like gas and coal are on the way out.
“Viva says it supports the transition to cleaner sources of power but, so far, the only detailed proposal is to import gas, a dirty, polluting fuel that can be as damaging to our climate as coal.
“Geelong can be a renewable energy hub. We have the infrastructure, skilled workforce, and proud manufacturing heritage to position our city as the place for a rapidly growing clean energy industry, especially given our proximity to the big battery planned for Moorabool.”
[Sign the petition to the planning minister here.]