Last week marked a significant achievement for environmental and community activists along the Surf Coast. After years of campaigning, the Otway Climate Emergency Action Network (OCEAN), Surfrider, the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), and local politicians, including Corangamite MP Libby Coker, celebrated at a packed event in Torquay. Global data company TGS announced they would no longer pursue their seismic survey plans, citing competing global priorities

The proposal had raised strong opposition due to its potential impact on marine life, including whale breeding grounds, and concerns over the lack of proper consultation with local communities. Widespread protests and a massive paddle-out event in Torquay were pivotal in rallying public support against the project.

Local leaders, including Coker, were vocal critics of the process, condemning the inadequate consultation with coastal residents and advocating for their voices to be heard. The campaign succeeded in reducing the project’s scope, but TGS’s decision to withdraw entirely reflects the power of grassroots efforts in influencing environmental policies. While this victory is celebrated, activists are now focusing on broader reforms, calling on the federal government to abolish Special Prospecting Authority (SPA) permits to prevent future seismic blasting proposals.