More locals join push to stop oil drilling in Great Australian Bight

Holdfast Bay council wants moratorium on oil and gas exploration in bight over fears of 'devastating impacts' of oil spill

Local opposition to plans by multinational oil companies to drill in the Great Australian Bight has ratcheted up a notch after Holdfast Bay council passed a motion calling on the regulator to stop all such activity - the largest of five councils in the South Australian region to voice concern.

The move almost doubles the number of people living in councils opposed to drilling in the bight, bringing it to nearly 84,000 people in total, with the representatives of the roughly 38,000 people in Holdfast Bay adding their voices to those of Kangaroo Island, Victor Harbor, Yankalilla and Yorke Peninsula.