Submission on Petroleum Block Offer 2015 consultation

To the Dunedin City Council

policy@dcc.govt.nz

5 December 2014

From: OIL FREE OTAGO

Email contact details: oilfreeotago@gmail.com

Kia ora

Oil Free Otago are pleased to accept the mana whenua’s important role as Kaitiaki of the coast and ocean on behalf of us all. However, we do not accept that the government’s so-called commitment to consult with iwi and hapu about Block Offer 2015 and previous Block Offers is genuine consultation. Neither do we accept the reality that other residents will not be consulted. Even local authorities are not being consulted, but only “notified to ensure an informed and robust process“. This is unacceptable.

The risks to Dunedin (and in the wider context to all New Zealanders and to the world) of deep sea drilling off the Otago coast and anywhere in our exclusive economic zone are so serious that we recommend that all deep sea exploration and drilling in NZ should cease. The two major risks are local, to the environment and the economy and global, to climate change.

Climate Change

New Zealand, along with many other countries, has agreed to limit global warming to two degrees, yet its policies contradict this agreement. In order to meet its obligation to the world community and to future generations, 80% of already discovered burnable carbon (oil, gas and coal) must stay in the ground. To stay below the two degree limit there must be no more drilling for polar or deep sea (marginal) oil and gas, all coal must be phased out by 2030, and the remaining conventional oil and gas must be used to urgently build up the infrastructure needed for a low carbon future. (ref: Professor Bob Lloyd, University of Otago, September 2013) It is therefore irresponsible at this time to drill for more, marginal, deep sea oil or gas in dangerous frontier regions such as our southern ocean.

DCC’s submission to last year’s 2014 Petroleum Block Offer recognized the cost to communities of adaptation and mitigation of effects of climate change, and recognised oil and gas’s contribution to climate change but did not appear to join the dots. Governments and local authorities have a duty of care to their citizens. To endorse deep sea drilling off our coast is to disregard this duty. We are running out of time.

Environment and economy

1. A major gas blowout or oil spill has the potential to ruin Dunedin’s environment and economy, due to its effect on:

o   Our Otago coast’s clean unspoilt beauty, its unique wildlife and the special lifestyle it affords (surfing, diving, boating etc) – and on the importance of NZ’s 100% pure clean green brand.

o   Dunedin’s ecotourism which brings around $100 million annually into our local economy. Wildlife that would be affected includes:

• yellow eyed penguins
• Northern royal albatross (more albatross species breed in our exclusive economic zone than anywhere else in the world)
• world’s rarest sea lion, the NZ sea lion
• 38 of the world’s 80 whale and dolphin species breed here. Whales are returning to the Otago coast after many years’ absence.

o   The fishing industry – commercial, recreational and customary. Fishing is New Zealand’s fifth largest industry, generating $1.2 – 1.5 billion per year. The fishing industry in the Gulf of Mexico may take 50 years to recover from the Deepwater Horizon disaster – if ever. (John Wathen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yduv3APYawA)

2. Rather than being an economic boon as many suggest or believe, the industry is an economic and social burden.

• The oil and gas industry has already cost taxpayers $46 million this year. (http://awsassets.wwfnz.panda.org/downloads/wwf_fossil_fuel_finance_nz_subsidies_report.pdf)
• We could not afford a disaster. The Deepwater Horizon disaster cost Americans $42.2 billion. (wikipedia)
• Jobs will not be for local people – they will be specialist positions for foreign or out of town experts (http://www.med.govt.nz/sectors-industries/natural-resources/pdf-docs-library/oil-and-gas/economic-contribution-of-oil-and-gas-industry/BERL%20report.pdf)
• Infrastructure costs, for example improving Dunedin airport for larger industry traffic, would likely fall upon the ratepayer and taxpayer with no regional royalties from the industry.
• Concern of the social impact of a large extractive industry offshore – what effects will fly-in fly-out workers have on our safe Dunedin social fabric?
• It is economically naive to invest money and energy in exploring for and producing a product that must not be used due to climate change (see below). For our local community to depend on oil or gas for its wellbeing makes no economic or social sense whatsoever (eg: Environmental Debt, Amy Larkin, 2013 p150)
• Anadarko say they will return. They were a 25% co-owner of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and received daily reports of events leading up to that disaster. They were not a passive investor as asserted by NZ’s Anadarko CEO on Campbell Live 8 October 2013. This assertion and other incidents, such as a US class actions against them, the Anadarko NZ companies being registered in the Cayman Islands (to avoid paying income tax?), their continuing lack of transparency whilst visiting Dunedin and their use of military counterinsurgency tactics against US citizen industry activists (http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2011/11/11/gas-companies-caught-using-military-strategies-to-overcome-drilling-concerns/) do not paint Anadarko as a trustworthy corporate citizen yet we are being asked to trust them with our ocean and livelihoods. Is this the type of company we should invite to Dunedin?

3        The risky nature of deep sea drilling in the New Zealand context

• The treacherous southern ocean environment – weather extremes, ocean currents from the Antarctic, huge swells as high as six story buildings. (http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/en/reports/Out-Of-Our-Depth-Deep-sea-oil-exploration-in-New-Zealand/)
• The distance from help. Relief rigs, if available at all, could be months away and capping devices, the closest of which may be in Singapore, would take at least two weeks to get here. (evidence presented by Shell at August 2013 consultation meeting)
• The inadequacy of our Maritime NZ response unit – three “tinnies” with no subsea response capacity.
• The government’s use of Corexit. The government has not ruled out using Corexit in the event of a disaster. It used Corexit for two weeks after the Rena oil spill. Corexit is a known carcinogen that has been banned in European countries. It must be banned here and not used again as an oil spill response tool.
• Risk data put forward by companies such as Anadarko is historical and not relevant to the untried conditions of our southern ocean.

Alternatives

Climate change mitigation and adaptation measures must match the seriousness of the issue. National and local leaders no longer have the luxury of ignorance nor of failing to join the dots. If we are to take the climate change experts at their word, a ‘wartime response’ to climate change will be needed to keep global warming to a level that will allow for the survival of future Dunedin citizens.

Fortunately, we have the ability to make the changes needed in Dunedin and with courage from our leaders could achieve it. Changes are already being made, as proposed in much of the DCC Energy plan, such as making Dunedin a more cycle-friendly city. We have the know-how for an electric car conversion industry to begin immediately to convert Dunedin’s transport fleet. Some local residents have approached the DCC regarding the importation of rooftop photovoltaic panels. Imported in bulk for maximum cost effectiveness, pv panels could cover many Dunedin rooftops, help eliminate fuel poverty and combat inequality in our city.

We must encourage local food and low carbon industries such as the electric tram, trains and make public transport affordable and attractive to use.

The Council must vote decisively to divest the Waipori Fund from fossil fuel extraction.

We must stop burning dirty, polluting lignite and coal in our boilers and homes. And again, we recommend that all deep sea exploration and drilling in NZ should cease. There is no time to waste.

Talented New Zealand Musician, Erin Crowley’s music video “Against the Man” with footage from Otago protests 2014 against New Zealand’s first ever permitted deep sea drilling wells. Erin says “I have worked hard to create something that will ignite that passion for kaitiakitanga.”

Erin’s music inspires us all to keep resisting the government’s drive for revenue at the expense of our ‘paradise homeland’. As she says “This is my homeland, and I’ll make a stand. I don’t want no man to take it away.”

Your first stand against the man, VOTE!

Have a good think about your party vote this month. We know that the Green Party and Internet Mana have both committed to a moratorium on deep sea drilling.

Your second stand to protect our land, WRITE!

Tell the DCC you support their legislation to divest from fossil fuels. (dcc@dcc.govt.nz) (Facebook: Dunedin Divests) (Sign the Petition)

Your third stand to protect our freedoms, TELL SOMEONE!

Talk to your family and friends, stay informed, discuss this difficult moment in our history. If you’d like to host us, Oil Free Otago can come give an informative presentation or help hang up a sign at your home. Or if you want to get active in community events, contact us: oilfreeotago@gmail.com

Thank you Erin. We put our hands in your hands, and we will fight against these plans auctioning off our seas!

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Check out Oil Free Otago’s September Newsletter!

New sign, same message: NO DRILL

A crew of Oil Free Otago and St Martin Island people spent an amazing weekend on the Island enjoying each other’s’ company, planning, eating, pulling weeds and painting the giant Toroa on the chapel roof.

It’s always refreshing to spend time on this beautiful island, a sanctuary away from the distractions of modern life. We’ve been trained to think those distractions are the things that matter, but they don’t. What matters is community, working together to protect our beautiful natural environment. That’s what our giant albatross symbolises, a symbol of hope for a healthy sustainable future.  We cannot continue to increase carbon emissions through drilling for more gas and oil to burn, without risking that future.

The threat posed by the oil and gas companies is far from over, with more seismic testing due this summer, and more exploratory drilling on the horizon.

The “No Drill” sign on the island jetty was taken down when Anadarko left but the sentiment remains. The Oil companies should know to expect resistance. We believe strongly in protecting our beautiful ocean and wildlife. They are not welcome here. Our Toroa is standing guard with us.

Painting the Toroa on Quarantine Island

School student Penny Woods was inspired by Oil Free Otago protests to enter a competition with this dress – and won second place. The dress is made from anti deep-sea drilling banners. Here’s what Penny told us:

What inspired me was that I really wanted to make a statement about oil drilling because it is bad for the environment and NZ is a green country and we don’t want to have oil drilling in our country because it isn’t environmentally friendly.

The corset on my dress represents animals being suffocated from a oil spill, because it is tight fitting and sticks to the skin like oil does to animals.

The skirt represents the waves and the flow of the ocean by the ruffles on the right side of the skirt. The ruffles only being on the right side of the skirt represents how unique the ocean is and it shows off the oceans natural beauty.

The fabric I used isn’t elegant or pretty so it shows off the ugliness of a oil spill and the clash of the colours come together to make a beautiful dress and creature of the sea.

-Penny Woods

On 18 August Oil Free Otago spoke at the DCC public forum on the dangers of the TPPA – with regard to climate change and deep sea drilling. We are pleased to report that Dunedin City Councillors, after some hours of discussion, voted (slim majority) to adopt option one of their internal report on the issue, which is almost identical to the 12 point policy remit produced by the Renewables group in Motueka, and adopted by Auckland, Nelson, Tasman and Christchurch Councils.

Crs MacTavish, Hawkins, Thomson, Neville Peat, David Benson-Pope, Kate Wilson and Mayor Cull voted to adopt the resolution.

Crs Whiley, Staynes, Bezett, Lord, Doug Hall and Andrew Noone voted against it.

Cr Vandervis abstained because, he said, councillors could not know what they were voting for and Cr Hilary Calvert was not present at the meeting. 

Here is the 12 point resolution:

TPPA resolution for Local Government consideration

That the Dunedin City Council encourages the government to conclude trade negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership and Free Trade Agreements in a way that provides net positive benefits for the Otago region and New Zealand, that is, provided the Partnership Agreements achieve the following objectives:

i. Continues to allow the Dunedin City Council and other councils, if they so choose, to adopt procurement policies that provide for a degree of local preference; to choose whether particular services or facilities are provided in house, by council-controlled organisations (CCOs) or by contracting out; or to require higher health and safety, environmental protection, employment rights and conditions, community participation, animal protection or human rights standards than national or international minimum standards.

ii. Maintains good diplomatic and trade relations and partnerships for Dunedin, Otago and New Zealand with other major trading partners not included in the agreement, including with China.

iii. Provides substantially increased access for our agriculture exports, particularly those from the Otago region into the US market;

iv. Does not undermine PHARMAC, raise the cost of medical treatments and medicines or threaten public health measures, such as tobacco control;

v. Does not give overseas investors or suppliers any greater rights than domestic investors and suppliers, such as through introducing Investor- State Dispute Settlement, or reduce our ability to control overseas investment or finance;

vi. Does not expand intellectual property rights and enforcement in excess of current law;

vii. Does not weaken our public services, require privatisation, hinder reversal of privatisations, or increase the commercialisation of government or of Dunedin City Council or other local government organisations;

viii. Does not reduce our flexibility to support local economic and industry development and encourage good employment and environmental practices and initiatives like Council Cadetships, COMET and the Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs which enable marginalised young people to develop their skills and transition into meaningful employment;

ix. Contains enforceable labour clauses requiring adherence to core International Labour Organisation conventions and preventing reduction of labour rights for trade or investment advantage;

x. Contains enforceable environmental clauses preventing reduction of environmental standards for trade or investment advantage;

xi. Has general exceptions to protect human rights, the environment, the Treaty of Waitangi, and New Zealand’s economic and financial stability;

xii. Is referred to the parliamentary select committee process, allowing adequate time for public submissions.

UK journalist George Monbiot gives a clear explanation of the market-led neo-liberal agenda and how the attempt to monetise nature in order to save it is the wrong thing to do.  “You can never win by adopting the values of your opponents”. Well worth a look before September 20 elections, folks. This is the final 12 minutes of his SPERI lecture given in April 2014.

The entire lecture, with Q&A – 1hr 18 min –  is here:

… and join OFO! A lovely animation explaining the positive feedbacks in our climate system that will accelerate runaway global warming. Thanks to Climate Justice Taranaki for the link.

Come and hear what Dunedin North Candidates have to say about our local environmental issues.

Kia Kaha Dunedin City Council

Dunedin City Councillors will vote whether to divest from fossil fuels this Spring 2014. Oil Free Otago strongly support our councillors and urge them to do the right thing for our climate and our future.

The DCC voted in May to endorse a policy direction to develop a Socially Responsible Investment Policy for its Waipori Fund, which includes exclusion of direct investment in fossil fuel extraction, tobacco, armaments, gambling and pornography.

The DCC is currently writing up a document to be presented to Council for a final vote which will confirm whether Dunedin will truly become the first New Zealand city to divest from fossil fuels.

Sign the petition telling DCC that we support their vote to divest!

Share & Like on Facebook: Dunedin Divests

Write to the DCC (dcc@dcc.govt.nz) to express how important it is that the motion to divest be adopted!

Check out who’s already divested: http://gofossilfree.org/commitments/