Wildlife may threaten development

THE $6 billion expansion of the Olympic Dam uranium mine in outback South Australia could be threatened by a whale and a rare seabird.
Federal Environment Minister Ian Campbell must consider the impact on the habitats of the endangered southern giant petrel and the southern right whale in the approvals process for a $300 million desalination plant that is crucial to the mine’s expansion.

Mr Campbell blocked a Victorian wind farm development in April because of the perceived threat to the rare orange-bellied parrot. And he was forced to intervene last month to guarantee the future of a $650 million pulp mill in South Australia, amid concerns its impact on the endangered red-tailed black cockatoo could have the project scuttled.

BHP Billiton wants to build the seawater desalination plant in South Australia’s upper Spencer Gulf region to supply water for its expanded Olympic Dam uranium mine at Roxby Downs, 570km north of Adelaide.

According to documents obtained under Freedom of Information laws, BHP says the petrel and the whale may live in areas affected by the proposed desalination plant. The animals are included in a list of flora and fauna referred to the Environment Department as potentially affected by the expansion.

Southern right whales, which frequent South Australian waters to mate from May to October, were recently seen near Port Augusta in the upper Spencer Gulf. They can come within 20m of the shore, according to South Australian Whale Centre spokesman Brad Riddle. BHP is also investigating the effect that brine discharge from the plant could have on the Australian cuttlefish. Its documents refer to the Spencer Gulf as “a unique breeding ground” for the cuttlefish.

The company’s EIS project manager, Michael Ryan, said detailed studies for an environmental impact statement were under way but had yet to determine whether threats existed to any species. He said the southern giant petrel and southern right whale were on the list but the company believed “they are least likely to be impacted by the whole project”.

“We’re doing modelling in relation to what potential impact (the plant) could have on the marine environment,” he said. “We’re also doing assessments on birds, the petrel being one of those, and other wader birds to determine what potential impact it could have on their feeding or breeding areas, or staging sites.”

He said the petrel had not been seen in the area “to the best of our knowledge”. The EIS required joint South Australian and federal government approval, with a draft due for completion in the middle of next year. The draft would cover all necessary mine infrastructure, including the plant and its pipeline and energy needs.

Source: www.finance.news.com.au