February 19, 2026
We’ve previously alerted recreational fishers to the proposed Victoria Energy Terminal project which will see a floating import terminal in Port Phillip around 19 kilometres offshore from Avalon. It’s one to keep an eye on as it progresses, particularly if you go fishing and boating from the Kirk’s Point, Altona, Werribee areas as this project does have the potential impact your fishing.
Vopak’s proposed Victoria Energy Terminal project is a floating import terminal moored in Port Phillip which will process liquified natural gas and connect it using an underwater pipeline to feed into the existing supply onshore.
According to Vopak, using a floating regasification unit (FSRU) avoids the need to build long-term gas infrastructure on land. The FSRU will receive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from import tankers, re-gasify it onboard, and transfer the gas via a subsea pipeline in Port Phillip Bay. The pipeline will transition onto farmland managed by Melbourne Water before connecting directly into the Victorian Transmission System. The terminal can hold enough gas to meet approximately one week of Victoria’s winter demand.
The proposed location, where the FSRU will be moored, is an exisiting anchorage point and no underwater dredging is required for the berth or channel which will minimise any potential environmental impacts. The FSRU is the size of a large cruise liner and it would be moored at the site for 10-20 years to support the state’s transition to renewables while gas is still needed in Victoria.
Vopak estimates that there will be around 20-50 deliveries annually, depending on factors such as how domestic supply from exisiting fields declines over the coming decades and how quickly Victoria transitions to renewable energy sources. Supply ships usually berth for 24 hours to unload the LNG.
There is no denying that it will impact recreational fishing and boating in Port Phillip. During the construction process, temporary, roving exclusion zones can be expected while the cable and pipeline is installed, which will impact recreational access in targeted areas. Once operational, it will see a large exclusion zone around the terminal right in the middle of Port Phillip.
VRFish have met with Vopak to learn more about the project and to ensure recreational fishers are engaged in and strongly represented throughout the process. There will be plenty of opportunities for fishers to get involved in upcoming consultation processes and engagement activities. We’ll keep you updated on these opportunities as they arise.
Location Map
Project Infrastructure
The project will include the following infrastructure: a floating, moored vessel, a pipeline, a gas receiving station and transmission line. The following diagram illustrates the project infrastructure.
Project Timeline
The current project timeline:
