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Gas drilling off Central Coast may start in three weeks
Local News 22 Jul 10 @ 09:07am by DENICE BARNES and ALICIA McCUMSTIE

The Ocean Patriot gas exploration rig.
DRILLING for gas is about to start 20 kilometres off the Central Coast - possibly in about three weeks.

But confusion and conflicting reports surround where and exactly when it will happen.

In a deal approved by both the federal and state governments, Advent Energy hopes to develop an extensive gas field to rival the one in Bass Strait.

In one press release Advent said it planned to drill its first well in what it called the PEP 11 gas field in the middle of next month using the Ocean Patriot semi-submersible rig (pictured).

It said the initial drilling work was expected to take about 25 days.

But in information given to Gosford Council it said drilling would start in September and would last 30 days.

The site of the first well also is clouded in mystery. It may be off Catherine Hill Bay but Gosford Council thinks it could be 20km off Forresters Beach.

The suddenness of the news has shocked Gosford Council which received notification late this week. The council needs to make a response by Tuesday at 5pm.

But Wyong Council seems to have been left in the dark on the matter.

Gosford Mayor Chris Holstein has rushed through an urgent mayoral minute for next Tuesdays meeting.

We understand there will be four drill holes, roughly about 20km or 25km off the coast, he said.

Exploration rights have been approved by both the state and federal governments.

An environmental impact statement has been done but we are concerned it has not taken certain things into consideration, Cr Holstein said.

But what happens when something goes wrong like the Gulf of Mexico, What are the emergency plans?

They have given us no time to comment and theres been no consultation. We are supposed to make a formal response by 5pm on Tuesday.