The Wilderness Society (South Australia) Inc v National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority

COURT OR TRIBUNAL

Federal Court of Australia

DATE FILED (OR FIRST HEARING DATE)

15/01/2020

LITIGATION TYPE

Project Approval - Mitigation

SUBJECT MATTER

Gas / Oil

REVIEW TYPE

Judicial Review

SUMMARY

In January 2020, the Wilderness Society SA launched a legal challenge in the Federal Court to National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority's (NOPSEMA)’s Environmental Approval of Equinor’s plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight (Stromlo-1 project). Objections included Equinor’s failure to consult relevant stakeholders, as required by the regulations. The project involved deepwater drilling to explore new oil reserves located under protected areas of the Bight off the coast of South Australia. On 9 March 2020 NOPSEMA formally accepted Equinor’s notification to end the operation of its approved environment plan for the Stromlo-1 project. As a result of Equinor’s withdrawal of its plans, the Federal Court action was able to be discontinued.

CASE DOCUMENTS

SAD10/2020 The Wilderness Society (South Australia) Inc v National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority
SAD10/2020 Notice of discontinuance