In South Australia, the Native Vegetation Council rejected an application by Southern Launch to amend a conservation agreement for the construction of the Whalers Way orbital rocket complex. The planned facility is located about 30 kilometres from Port Lincoln on private land leased by the company.
As ABC News Australia reports, the project involved clearing vegetation. The council did not approve the amendment to the agreement because the site is a recognised conservation area for native vegetation and fauna. At the same time, the complex had planning approvals from the state government and federal authorities.
Bird habitat
BirdLife Australia representative Rebecca Bolton welcomed the preservation of the conservation agreement that has been in effect in the area since 1987. According to her, the area is a habitat for two bird species threatened with extinction.
She noted that the Eyre Peninsula is a key area for one of the species whose recovery is being pursued by the organisation. Bolton also stressed the importance of protecting another species, the emu-wren.
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The company’s next steps
Southern Launch’s plans for the Whalers Way complex had previously drawn objections from environmental groups, including the local Eyre Peninsula Environmental Protection Alliance. The company began test rocket launches at Whalers Way in 2021, and one attempt ended in a rocket fire.
Since then, Southern Launch has continued operations at another site, the Koonibba Test Range, located further along the western coast of the Eyre Peninsula. The latest successful launch there took place in August in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.
A state government spokesperson said that the Native Vegetation Council had informed Southern Launch of its refusal to approve the application. If the company changes its proposal, the matter may be referred back to the council for consideration. Before the decision was made, Environment Minister Emily Bourke did not clarify whether the state government would follow the independent council’s recommendation, while the government spokesperson did not explain whether the minister would challenge the decision.
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