MELBOURNE, Tuesday 27 January 2026 — New images of bushfire impacts, and aerial footage captured exclusively by Greenpeace Australia Pacific, show gas exploration continuing off the coast of Victoria as bushfires and a record-heatwave bear down on the state.
Greenpeace campaigners and a photographer documented the recent bushfires and offshore gas operations in the Otway and Gippsland Basins — areas the Victorian and Federal governments have recently opened up for new gas exploration permits.
The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the extreme heatwave conditions will persist into the week leading to extreme fire danger and temperatures close to 50 degrees Celsius in multiple states.
It comes as new international analysis found the intense heatwave in south eastern Australia in early January, when the Otway fires started, was made five times more likely by human-caused climate change.
Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, and Surf Coast local, said: “What struck me most flying over the Otways during the fires — seeing scorched forest, blackened and dead trees with fires still smouldering nearby, followed by the shock of industrial-scale gas drilling equipment emerging from the ocean — was the price we are all paying for the bottomless greed of fossil fuel corporations.
“Most people will never see the gas industry’s polluting infrastructure out in the ocean — but the presence of a drill rig bigger than a soccer field, like the one we photographed, should be ringing alarm bells across the country.
“New gas projects not only risk our marine life and oceans, but pollution from burning the gas fuels the fires, storms, and floods that destroy lives, decimate wildlife, cost our economy billions, and force communities to rebuild time and time again.
“In Australia we already produce more gas than we need, yet the government keeps approving new projects that fuel the climate crisis and its devastating impacts across the country.
“This summer Australia is burning. Again. This must be a wake up call to the Government, who should immediately commit to stopping gas expansion and show it is committed to protecting our communities.”
Drew Mcpherson, National Campaigns Director at Surfrider, said: “It was shocking to see the industry in such beautifully raw ecosystems that up until very recently were thriving, now there’s one of the world’s biggest drills ripping through the seabed.
“We don’t need more gas, it’s a risk for our oceans, sea life & coastal communities.”
-ENDS-
New footage and images for media use available in the Greenpeace Media Library
Bushfire impacts on native animals and landscape in Victoria, Australia
Aerial footage of offshore gas infrastructure in Victoria, Australia
Media contact
Lucy Keller on 0491 135 308 or [email protected]
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