Supporting programs

The Victorian Gas Program’s (VGP) scientific studies were underpinned by a number of supporting programs.  These supporting measures helped to ensure regional communities in the Otway and Gippsland basin were informed about program and local views were captured in key reports.

Community engagement

During the three years of the VGP, an extensive and proactive community and stakeholder engagement program was undertaken to share the findings of the studies as they progressed . The Geological Survey of Victoria established a regional office in Warrnambool so stakeholders and local residents could readily access to scientific experts, ask questions and get answers along the way.

Regular briefings and information sessions in Gippsland and south west Victoria provided updates to councils and communities. These updates not only covered the geoscientific and environmental studies but also gas production methods, regulatory controls and the Government’s commitment to net zero gas emissions by 2050.

Social research

As part of the VGP, independent quantitative research was undertaken by the CSIRO between June and December 2019.

The research objective was to provide a statistically robust understanding of regional attitudes towards onshore conventional gas development in the Otway and Gippsland basins. It also measured views about a range of factors that are important to communities in relation to onshore community wellbeing.

Research methodology involved a telephone survey of a randomly selected representative sample of 801 residents – 501 in the Otway Basin and 300 in the Gippsland Basin.  This covered communities with the municipalities of Corangamite, Moyne, Warrnambool, Glenelg, Southern Grampians, East Gippsland, Latrobe, and Wellington.

CSIRO’s research:

• highlights a diversity of views in region Victoria about onshore conventional gas
• provides a baseline for future measurement of social acceptance of onshore conventional gas exploration and production.

Resource planning

A strategic land assessment of the Otway and Gippsland geological basins was undertaken as part of the VGP’s scientific research into the risks, benefits and impacts of onshore conventional gas.

Integrated inventories, based on 140 data sets, were developed to identify key natural resource, cultural, environmental, agricultural, and other land use values across large sections of the basins.

Preliminary inventory models were tested through regional community workshops, and the final models will help to ensure that any potential future onshore conventional gas exploration and development takes the local context into account.

Basin specific reports are available:

Onshore Otway Basin; Resource and land use planning model

Onshore Gippsland Basin; Resource and land use planning model

For out more about Resource and land use planning program.

Regulatory improvements

A comprehensive regulatory review was undertaken in response to the findings of the studies and was a key input into the Victorian Gas Program’s scientific research into the risks, benefits and impacts of onshore conventional gas.

A key focus of the review was to identify national and international best practice in gas regulation , with the aim to identify potential improvements in Victoria’s petroleum legislation.

Related media release: Onshore conventional gas restart a green light for jobs

Page last updated: 01 Dec 2021