Oil spill shows need for marine parks: WWF

AAP Brisbane Times 24 Nov 10;

Australia's worst offshore oil spill has proven the need for a marine sanctuary network to prevent drilling for oil and gas in environmentally sensitive areas, the conservation group WWF says.

Federal Resources Minister Martin Ferguson outlined to parliament on Wednesday the key findings of a commission of inquiry into the Montara spill in the Timor Sea in 2009.

The report recommended that Thai-based company PTTEP Australasia show cause to the government why its rights to operate in Australian territory should not be cancelled.
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Mr Ferguson said he would wait for an independent departmental review of PTTEP's action plan before making a decision on whether to review its licence to operate in the Montara oilfield and issue a show cause notice.

In response to the report, WWF-Australia called on the federal government to get serious about protecting Australia's oceans and coasts.

Creating a network of marine sanctuaries that would prevent drilling for oil and gas in the most environmentally sensitive areas was the only way to do that, WWF's Conservation Manager Gilly Llewellyn said.

"When WWF visited the toxic spill last year, it was evident dolphins and sea birds were swimming through a noxious mix of oil and chemical dispersants," she said.

"This kind of environmental disaster is unacceptable. Montara and the Gulf of Mexico spill have shown the worst-case scenario can and does happen."

Dr Llewellyn said the government had indicated it would implement many of the report's recommendations and that would reduce the risk of more catastrophic oil spills.

A shift to a central offshore petroleum regulator was one positive move.

"However, we need to make sure that whatever changes are made are backed up by having the right people with the right resources to do the job," Dr Llewellyn said

WWF Western Australia director Paul Gamblin said the oil and gas industry was booming off the WA coast, close to environmentally important areas like Ningaloo Reef, and there were bids to drill off Margaret River and Rottnest Island near Perth.

"Currently 99 per cent of our waters are open to industry. Where is the balance and the sense in that?

"Until we get that balance right, the warnings from Montara and the Gulf of Mexico spill will not have been heeded by government," Mr Gamblin said.