ASB MAGAZINE: As Norwegian energy company Equinor prepares to submit a third-revision of its plan to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight * Patagonia Ambassador Heath Joske is taking his #FightForTheBight along the country’s southern and eastern coastlines. The Streaky Bay-based surfer is touring this new film in support of locals who have spoken up loudly to defend their home.

 

The Head Of The Bight (2019) unites indigenous custodians, fishermen, scientists, surfers, and activists. Directed, edited and filmed by Andrew Buckley, the film is produced by Heath Joske and Sean Doherty. Running 30-minutes, it follows on from Stand For The Bight (2019) and Fight For The Bight In Norway (2019), which saw Heath attend Equinor’s AGM and deliver hand-written letters opposing their drill plans.

 

This new film release couldn’t come at a more critical stage – Equinor’s deadline to re-submit to The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority was just announced as November 29, and Norwegian newspapers this week reported that Equinor is searching for a new CEO.

 

“You are risking all of this for an experiment out there. At best, nothing goes drastically wrong and they rip oil out of the Bight for years; we continue to pollute and destroy our planet, a few people make some really good money out of it and it toxifies our fisheries. And at the worst… we’re all stuffed.” – Heath Joske, surfer and Streaky Bay resident.

 

 

Over the next fortnight, Heath will present the film The Head Of The Bight alongside Mick Waters’ Outdated Children (2019), and these family-friendly evenings will include a Q&A.

  • Thursday, 14 November – Patagonia Torquay
  • Friday, 15 November – Patagonia Manly
  • Sunday, 17 November – Mollymook Surf Club, Ulladulla
  • Wednesday, 20 November – Norah Heads Sports Club, with Mick Waters
  • Thursday, 21 November – Valla Beach Pre School, Valla Beach Road, Valla Beach
  • Friday, 22 November – Woolaweyah Community Hall, Yamba
  • Saturday, 23 November – Patagonia Burleigh Heads
  • Sunday, 24 November – Byron Bay Community Centre

 

Further details via Patagonia Australia’s Facebook page.

 

[ED’s NOTE ] * NOPSEMA REQUIRES EQUINOR TO MODIFY AND RESUBMIT ENVIRONMENT PLAN 

On 8 Novemebr 2019, NOPSEMA issued a notice to Equinor requiring them to modify and resubmit their environment plan for proposed drilling in the Great Australian Bight. Equinor must provide NOPSEMA with further information about matters relating to consultation, source control, oil spill risk, and matters protected under Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The opportunity to modify and resubmit does not represent a refusal or rejection of the environment plan. This is a normal part of NOPSEMA’s environment plan assessment process. NOPSEMA is required by law to provide titleholders a reasonable opportunity to modify and resubmit their plan if it doesn’t meet the regulatory requirements for acceptance.

Through the iterative assessment process under the Commonwealth Environment Regulations, NOPSEMA previously requested further information from Equinor on 27 June 2019 to input into its environment plan.

Equinor has 21 days to respond to NOPSEMA’s request to modify and resubmit its environment plan. However, Equinor may request an extension to this timeline.