Beach Energy meets face to face with landholders, occupiers, nearby neighbours and representatives of the First Nations of the South East to explain the operations and work with them to identify the best way to manage any impacts. We also consult directly with regulators, relevant government departments and agencies, and local government. For our local communities, we consult with community representatives, provide briefings at community group meetings, and provide information via email, post and phone calls.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of Beach’s consultation activities may be conducted online for the time being. This means video conferences may replace some face-to-face meetings where appropriate.

All questions, feedback or concerns are considered and responded to. Beach is committed to keeping the community up to date on its activities, throughout all phases of its projects.

Geophysics applies the principles and methods of physics to the study of the Earth. Scientists use geophysical techniques such as electromagnetics, magnetotellurics and seismic to measure and analyse subsurface conditions in the Earth.

Many of these geophysical survey methods are used for the exploration of economic materials such as groundwater, metals and hydrocarbons. Geophysics is also commonly used for engineering and environmental problems such as groundwater contaminant mapping, urban utility mapping, forensics, dam safety and archaeology.

The Otway Basin is a large sedimentary basin containing hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Exploration in the Otway Basin began in the late 1950s and the first exploration well was drilled in 1961. Since then, the eastern Otway Basin around Port Campbell has continued delivering natural gas and LPG to Victorian homes and businesses.

Beach is required to continue searching and developing hydrocarbons in its various exploration permits and production licenses in the Otway Basin, in accordance with requirements set out by DJPR for Victorian titles and the National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator (NOPTA) for Commonwealth titles.

Industry and regulators continue to see tight gas supply for south-east Australia. To positively impact declining production from existing fields as reservoirs deplete, new gas projects are required.

Yes, there have been previous geophysical surveys undertaken in the region by other companies. However, the existing data is incomplete across the Beach permit areas and does not enable a seamless and complete detailed map to be created.

There is also an area within the Calico Survey boundary that has not been surveyed before, permit– VIC/P007192(V).

After the survey is acquired, the data that is collected is processed by a team of specialist scientists using super-computers. The process can take up to 1 year before a final seismic data set is produced.

After the data set is loaded into a technical interpretation program, geophysical specialists at Beach Energy will evaluate the results in a process that can take an additional 6 to 12 months.

Decisions on drilling gas wells are only made after a rigorous process of geophysical interpretation, commercial modelling, risk assessment, and a lengthy internal and external regulatory approval process.

If a future drilling decision is made, Beach Energy will consult with landholders and the community at that time.

Natural gas has a wide variety of uses in our daily lives. This includes generating electricity, residential heating, hot water and cooking. In the industrial sector, gas is a primary heat source for manufacturing glass, steel, cement, bricks, wood, ceramics, tiles, paper and in producing food.

Gas is a common ingredient in the manufacturing of fertilisers, plastics, pharmaceuticals and fabrics.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) latest Gas Inquiry in July 2021 forecast a potential shortfall across the east coast gas market from 2022 onwards, driven by a shortfall in the southern states (Victoria).

Carbon emissions of natural gas are significantly lower than coal. As old coal fired power stations are removed from Australia’s energy mix, electricity powered from natural gas ensures a stable energy supply as our economy transitions to renewable energy sources for electricity generation.

The Australian Energy Market Operator’s (AEMO) 2020 Integrated System Plan (ISP) has forecast more gas is required in all modelled scenarios. In the most ambitious “Step Change” scenario where a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from power generation is achieved by 2041-42, 33% more gas fired electricity generation is required, enabling generation from renewables to increase by 285%.

No.

The gas Beach produces from the offshore Otway Basin is processed at the Otway Gas Plant near Port Campbell in Victoria. From there it is directly supplied via an existing pipeline into the Australian east coast gas market to meet existing demands by residential, commercial, industrial, manufacturing and service industries.

Beach is an active supporter of local communities through grants and partnerships that deliver many community benefits across health, education, environment initiatives and projects for community and emergency services infrastructure.

Over the last year, Beach has supported:

• Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club: nipper and leadership programs to reinforce surf awareness and vital lifesaving skills
• Heytesbury and District Landcare Network: revegetation program to maximise carbon drawdown into the soil of various sites
• Timboon P12 School: replacement of the prep to grade 3 playground, providing young students with the opportunity be active
• Timboon Recreation Reserve: upgrade of changerooms to meet current standards and provide facilities for women
• Port Campbell Progress Group: new generator for use in emergency situations to provide power in a place of last resort
• Timboon Golf Club: storage facility expansion to house additional golf carts, so those with mobility issues can continue to play.

The Otway Gas Plant has a multiplier effect in the local economy by employing around 40 people from immediate and surrounding regional communities. Beach uses several local contracting firms for ongoing support services, purchase of local goods where possible and pays substantial rates to the local shire.

The Calico Survey project will help ensure supply of natural gas to the plant, thereby continuing to support the local and State economy.

Beach Energy has strong relationships with many local suppliers in south west Victoria, including accommodations, catering, transport, electricians, civil engineering firms, earthwork operators, fencing, ag supplies, hardware, waste handling and removal.

Wherever possible we seek to work with local suppliers that share our values.

For more information on becoming a local supplier, please contact Beach Energy using the contact form provided below.

No. The small local gas industry has successfully co-existed with tourism, agriculture and other industries around the Shipwreck Coast region for over 20 years.

In fact, the local gas industry has been an active user of accommodation in the region, whilst tourism was in a slump during COVID-19 restrictions. And locally produced natural gas is used heavily in local industries such as dairy processing plants, timber mills and other manufacturing.

Five onshore to offshore wells have been successfully drilled at Beach well sites in the Otway Basin since 2014. The use of advanced directional drilling techniques avoids the need for a large offshore drilling rig, and the temporary use of onshore drill rigs has little to no negative impacts to the tourism industry.

At times, you may see the survey and support vessels in the water. Onshore, you may see a slow- moving vibroseis buggy, which looks similar to a large garbage truck. The geophysical survey will be no more noisy than regular traffic.

No. Vibrations from the land geophysical survey activity are not audible in the immediate surrounds, are only detectable under foot if standing in close proximity of the vehicle and become undetectable at distances beyond 10m.

The vibroseis buggies will not operate in close proximity to any residences, public buildings or coastal formations and pose no threat to animals, livestock or people.

Survey activities on the land will be done in daylight hours. In the water, vessels will remain operational 24 hours a day but the compressed air chambers that release air bubbles to create pulses of acoustic energy into the water will only operate after 6 pm and before 6 am.

No, road closures will not be required. Some roadside activity will be required and will be planned and carried out in consultation with State and local government authorities. If required, roadside activity will be subject to Traffic Management Plans that include the deployment of licensed traffic control to ensure the operation is safe and to minimise any disturbance to traffic.

No, there won’t be heavy traffic. Only a slow- moving vibroseis buggy, similar to a garbage truck, and a small number of 4WDs.

Yes. Vessels will not operate in water depths less than 5 m and the marine seismic source will only be used between 6 pm and 6 am to minimise potential impacts to swimmers snorkellers.

The survey will avoid surf breaks and for surfing between 6 pm and 6 am, the underwater sound is not expected to impact surfers as they are not submerged at any great depths or for any extended length of time.

Scuba diving is generally not allowed close to geophysical surveys as the sound pressure released underwater may cause discomfort to divers and risks to hearing if the diving occurs too close to the survey, or for too long, depending on the sound pressure levels.

The underwater sound levels for the Calico Survey will be much lower than traditional deep ocean surveys. Nevertheless, as part of the assessment of environmental impact, a sound impact study is being undertaken by globally recognised acoustic consultants at Jasco Applied Sciences. The study will be used to finalise recommended safe distances for any scuba diving from the Calico Survey.

Beach will then consult with recreational dive companies that may operate in the area and professional scuba diving associations, to jointly develop a plan that assesses any risks, prioritises activities and minimises or eliminates simultaneous seismic and diving activities.

As an added precaution, Beach will place signage at key foreshore areas and Community Advisers will be available to provide information and answer questions.

No. The energy output from a seismic source is very localised (within tens of metres) and does not result in vibrations large enough to damage houses, roads, the coastline or rock formations.

The Enterprise 3D marine geophysical survey acquired in 2014 used a 2,380 cubic inch seismic source.

Geophysical sensors were placed at two Port Campbell coast locations to measure the vibrations before and during that survey. The measurements showed that the vibrations from the activation of seismic sources between 1 and 5 kilometres offshore were considerably smaller than vibrations created by waves during storms.

The Calico Survey will only require between 250 to 750 cubic inch seismic sources. Geophysical sensors will be positioned to verify vibration levels.

Clearing of native vegetation is not required due to the small size of the receivers.

Foot access will be required through parts of the Port Campbell National Park and conducted in accordance with approved environment plans and access permits. The receivers will not disturb native animals and there will be minimal disturbance during placement of the receivers during daylight hours.

Avoidance and disturbance of whales will be managed in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Regulations (2000). This includes adhering to required speeds and distances from whales, and in accordance with mitigation measures set out in the environment plan which importantly includes conducting the survey at times of the year to minimise impacts to whale aggregations.

The survey and support vessels will move very slowly, and each vessel will have a trained marine mammal observer whose specific task is to notify the vessel Master of the presence of any whales and advise the approved protocols to avoid potential impacts. Any whale sightings and actions taken will be recorded and reported to regulators.

It is not expected that southern rock lobsters will be impacted as the sound pressure levels to be used in the Calico Survey will be much smaller than those used in traditional 3D marine geophysical surveys. Beach will undertake an underwater sound study to assess the potential impacts to rock lobsters as part of the development of the environment plan. Direct consultation will be undertaken with the commercial fishing sector.

There will be temporary and localised access restrictions for commercial fishing using set pots or nets in order to avoid risks of vessel collisions and any safety risks from entanglement of fishing gear with survey equipment.

Beach is aware of the different State and Commonwealth fisheries that operate in the Calico Survey area, has a long engagement history, and will continue to consult in order to minimising potential impacts of its activities which may include short term displacement of local commercial fishers who regularly fish in the survey area.

In the event that a commercial fisher suffers a direct economic loss due to the Calico Survey, Beach has a procedure called Fair Ocean Access that sets out Beach’s commitment to consultation, minimising impacts, circumstances in which a fisher may claim compensation, evidence required and the claim process.

There will be temporary and localised access restrictions for commercial fishing using set pots or nets in order to avoid risks of vessel collisions and any safety risks from entanglement of fishing gear with survey equipment.

Beach is aware of the different State and Commonwealth fisheries that operate in the Calico Survey area, has a long engagement history, and will continue to consult in order to minimising potential impacts of its activities which may include short term displacement of local commercial fishers who regularly fish in the survey area.

In the event that a commercial fisher suffers a direct economic loss due to the Calico Survey, Beach has a procedure called Fair Ocean Access that sets out Beach’s commitment to consultation, minimising impacts, circumstances in which a fisher may claim compensation, evidence required and the claim process.

Beach Energy engages with the local Aboriginal traditional owners on the majority of its activities in south west Victoria.

This usually involves working with the traditional owners to undertake a cultural heritage inspection of the impacted area.

Known cultural heritage and significant sites are identified and protected from operations using temporary flagging, fencing or exclusion zones to prevent damage, disturbance or interference.

Inductions for field crew include cultural heritage awareness training and what to do if suspected Aboriginal heritage site or artifacts are discovered during operational activities.