Viva's polluting gas terminal is back.
Viva Energy is proposing to build a huge floating gas import terminal in Corio Bay, which would import enormous amounts of fossil gas into Victoria – the equivalent of up to 600,000 tonnes of climate pollution.
Right now Victorians are dealing with cost of living pressures on top of an escalating climate crisis, and Viva’s plan to import gas will be terrible for both.
We need your help to stop it.
After being sent back to the drawing board last year, Viva has done new studies and resubmitted a ‘supplementary’ Environment Effects Statement (EES). It’s open for public submissions until 24 October.
If you spoke out against Viva’s gas terminal plan the first time round, please raise your voice again now. We only have a short window to raise any concerns, and we know from the previous EES that making a written submission can be very powerful.
Viva's import terminal posts a significant threat to our climate goals, health, household budgets and an equitable renewable energy transition.
We must oppose this terminal!
Fossil gas is methane and is responsible for 17% of all emissions in Victoria.
Studies show that ~12% of asthma cases are caused by indoor pollution from gas appliances. The benzene levels emitted can be greater than those from secondhand smoke.
The supply shortfall we hear about refers to the ability to meet demand on peak days in winter. What's needed is not an import terminal, rather substitution and storage. Half of the gas used in Victoria is used in homes, 71% of that is used for heating and 26% for hot water - we can easily substitute that gas usage through electric heat pumps and save those households money in the process. Rather than bring on a new supply of gas for a handful of days a year, Governments should be regulating to ensure that we store gas to get us through those peaks.
An import terminal will take urgency out of the electrification of our society - which hinders Victoria's economy and delays climate action. Because the gas terminal will be importing gas on the international market it will also expose Victorian households who can't afford to transition off gas to increasing international gas prices.