What about the Point Lowly property owners?

Development on or near the Point requires due consideration be given to local residents to ensure the amenity and lifestyle they currently enjoy are maintained and, if possible, enhanced.

Unlike the SANTOS project, there will not be any land acquisition for these projects and there is no intention to build anywhere where there are existing houses.

The State Government will work with the Whyalla Council to ensure the environment and the social importance of Point Lowly are respected.

Where will the proposed development be located?

Industry needs flat land for development. The whole Point Lowly Peninsula is fairly undulated particularly the slopes leading to Fitzgerald Bay therefore confining development to a limited area.

The proposed location of the harbour is on the western side of SANTOS, well away from the beaches and houses at the tip of Point Lowly.

Will public access to Point Lowly be denied?

The beach, houses and historic areas at Point Lowly are not part of the area being considered for development. These will remain as public spaces.

Will there be community consultation on these projects?

The developments proposed for the Point Lowly Peninsula are at an early stage.

Full community consultation is a requirement of the Environmental Impact Statement and Development Assessment processes.

No decisions will be made until these processes take place.

Will these projects destroy the sensitive areas on the Point and how will the interface between the proposed developments and the environment be managed?

All of these projects will be required to undertake comprehensive environmental impact assessments before permission to proceed is granted.

Only about 500 hectares of the 2500 hectares owned by the State Government on the peninsula will be used for these projects. The remainder will be set aside as protected area.

This process was used when OneSteel expanded its operations recently and paid for land to expand the Whyalla Conservation Park.

When native vegetation is removed as part of any development, larger areas of similar vegetation need to be permanently set aside as protected areas as compensation.

The majority of the land on Point Lowly Peninsula will be used as permanent native vegetation, in particular the escarpment on the eastern side of the peninsula.

The State Government is taking steps to ensure the future planning of the area will designate the tip of Point Lowly Peninsula and its beach as community recreational area. There is no intention to restrict the public’s access to this area.

What about the marine life and the cuttlefish?

The Environmental Impact Statements for both the harbour development and the desalination plant will have to unequivocally demonstrate the Giant Cuttlefish’s future is safe.

Some of the main breeding grounds for cuttlefish at present are underneath the SANTOS jetty, the Whyalla marina and the OneSteel facility.

While there will be some disturbance to the seabed and a zone of damage during construction of the jetty, once the seabed has settled it will become another marine environment for fish.

Cuttlefish are visible in the area from May to August / September and the eggs develop through November and December. The successful jetty developer will be required to undertake construction outside these critical periods.

Currently the cuttlefish can be viewed when diving, snorkelling or by boat on a clear calm day.
The developer of the proposed new jetty will be encouraged to construct viewing facilities for visitors to enjoy the spectacle.

BHP Billiton must demonstrate that waste streams from the proposed desalination plant will not adversely affect cuttlefish breeding.

Iron ore is inert and there is no evidence that it will adversely impact on the marine life.
Ballast water is controlled by AQIS and State agencies and there are regimes in place to manage these issues.