Kangaroo Island seaport proponents say abalone farm threat is ‘not credible’ as extra whale, dolphin concerns surface

Concerns have been raised that revised plans for a deepwater on Kangaroo Island might increase the risk to whales and dolphins.

An artist’s impression of Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers’ revised plans for Smith Bay. Picture: Supplied

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The company behind plans for a deepwater port on Kangaroo Island says large-scale design changes mean there’s “no credible argument” it will threaten a neighbouring abalone farm.

But the project still faces opposition from Smith Bay locals, who are worried the revised plans might actually increase the threat to whales and dolphins.

The State Government today publicly released an addendum to Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers’ plan for a $40 million port on the island’s northern coast.

The project, which will allow the company to export the island’s timber, has had a massive redesign to do away with dredging entirely.

Instead of a solid causeway, requiring dredging of about 100,000 cubic metres of seagrass, it will be an open-piled jetty, extending 650m out to sea.

Managing director Keith Lamb said the new plan addressed community concerns about water quality issues affecting Yumbah Aquaculture’s abalone farm.

“With these design changes, (the company) trusts all stakeholders will now agree there will be no harm to water quality in Smith Bay and no material risk to Yumbah, and therefore, no credible argument that both operations cannot coexist,” Mr Lamb said.

However, the plans show noise from pile-driving will be spread over a greater distance.

Impacts on whales and dolphins have been a key concern in the debate, with the original plans noting the work risked damaging cetaceans’ hearing.

Kangaroo Island/Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch co-ordinator Tony Bartram said the new plans would be more imposing on whale and dolphins’ habitat, and their hearing.

“The more sound that’s put out there, the more damaging it is to the acoustic environment for whales and dolphins,” Mr Bartram said. “Having to go further to get around the jetty is also placing dolphins and their calves more at risk.”

Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers is planning a deepwater port at Smith Bay. Picture: Suppled

Yumbah Aquaculture director Anthony Hall said he still believed the impacts of a seaport would “destroy” his company.

“If the State Government insisted (Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers) adequately assess and select one of the many other more appropriate sites for this project … aquaculture can flourish, (the company) can send its logs and woodchips off the island – and Kangaroo Island wins twice.”

Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers executive director John Sergeant said the company had measures in place to protect whales and dolphins, including “soft starts” to pile driving, and spotters to ensure work did not happen while cetaceans were nearby.

“It’s possible that they could be close but not seen, but that’s a particular problem in bad weather and we won’t do piling in bad weather,” Mr Sergeant said.

The project needs approval from State Planning Minister Stephan Knoll, to go ahead.

Mr Sergeant said although the company was confident it was “approvable” in its original form, the project’s changes showed how serious it was about addressing community concerns.

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