The Otway Basin remains a priority region for gas development; however, recent environmental approval outcomes demonstrate that investment certainty is increasingly influenced by external factors that extend beyond individual activities. The withdrawal of the TGS Otway deepwater seismic survey Environment Plan (EP), the prolonged assessment of the ConocoPhillips drilling Environment Plan (EP), and the rejection of the Regia Marine Seismic Survey EP illustrate the limitations of an activity-by-activity assessment model in a strategically important basin. This paper draws lessons from these outcomes and argues that early definition of cause–effect pathways, retention of optionality in activity design, and development of broader acceptability standards are essential to improving commercial and societal outcomes. It proposes a strategic shift toward industry-led regional planning, coordinated environmental data investment, and constructive engagement with emerging National Environmental Standards, embedded where possible within strategic approval mechanisms such as Offshore Project Proposals. The Otway Basin provides a timely case study in how environmental planning can evolve from reactive compliance towards structured investment de-risking.
Matt Smith (Wed,) studied this question.