Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers deep sea port redesigned
A deep sea wharf planned for Kangaroo Island’s Smith Bay has been modified to better suit the environment. See the new design here.
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A controversial port proposal on Kangaroo Island has been redesigned and will do away with dredging entirely in a bid to get the $35 million project across the line.
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers will today make an announcement to the stock exchange, setting out substantial changes to the design of its timber export facility proposed for Smith Bay on the island’s northern coast.
The company will extend the end of its proposed jetty another 250m offshore, “to eliminate the need for capital and maintenance dredging’’, and build a fully-piled jetty, eliminating the need for a solid causeway.
The changes will add $9 million to the cost of the project, but the company’s executive director Keith Lamb said that was justified by the environmental benefits as well as the “removal of any obstacles to a timely approval decision by government’’.
The proposal has polarised the Kangaroo Island community and neighbouring abalone farm owner Yumbah Aquaculture has been a vocal opponent.
In its 140-page submission to the State Government, Yumbah says the environmental impact statement prepared by the company is “a 12.5kg opinion editorial looking for a publisher’’.
As well as the causeway and dredging issues, Yumbah says the project “offers a biosecurity nightmare for a shallow, clean water bay that is currently pest-free’’ and says its submission includes “187 unanswered questions’’.
Mr Lamb says in his announcement to the ASX that the company believed the original design allowed for the management of environmental and operational risks.
“Even so, the company has been encouraged to further reduce the dredge quantity and to provide a mechanism for water circulation,” he said.
Mr Lamb said KIPT had considered Yumbah’s submission carefully.
“We have taken our neighbours at their word and have modified the project as they have requested, to eliminate the sources of their principal concerns,” he said. “We now hope that Yumbah will withdraw its objections to our wharf, and we look forward to working cooperatively with them to deliver a great outcome for both businesses, and increased prosperity for the island community.’’
KIPT says the project would create 160 direct and 74 indirect jobs, and add $53 million to the state economy each year. The company is now working to modify its development application.
