Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers seaport plan sparks concern about whales, dolphins
A SEAPORT at Kangaroo Island’s Smith Bay would drive away southern right whales and dolphins and create a “nightmare” for businesses, environmental and tourism groups say.
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A SEAPORT at Kangaroo Island’s Smith Bay would drive away southern right whales and dolphins and create a “nightmare” for businesses, environmental and tourism groups say.
But the seaport’s proponent – Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers – has rebuffed their claims and says if approved, it will provide a huge employment boost and reduce the number of locals moving to the mainland for work.
Groups are rallying against plans for the project after an environmental impact statement was lodged with the State Government on September 28 – a major milestone in the development’s planning.
Kangaroo Island/Victor Harbor Dolphin Watch co-ordinator Tony Bartram said Smith Bay – on the north side of the island – was emerging as a significant area for endangered southern right whales and their calves.
“This could mean a loss of a food source for them (and) it could mean they’re at risk from vessel strike,” Mr Bartram said.
“One of the major impacts on both southern right whales and dolphins is the introduction of anthropogenic sound into their environment. You’re taking away their major sense.
“We’re looking at something quite disastrous to something quite precious and unique.”
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers plans to use the seaport to export logs and woodchips, and says it will unlock more than 250 jobs and inject more than $50 million into the state’s economy each year.
The State Government will consider the company’s environmental impact statement before releasing it for public comment.
Mr Bartram said if noise, dredging or other environmental factors caused whales distress, they could be driven away.
“It could mean they don’t survive the trek down to the feeding grounds, towards the Antarctic,” he said.
Kangaroo Island Marine Adventures owner Andrew Neighbour’s guests often swim with dolphins in Smith Bay.
“When they select a safe haven, part of that selection is it’s quieter,” Mr Neighbour said.
He said recently, locals were seeing more whales with their calves at the bay.
Charmaine Zealand owns Molly’s Run, a high-end bed and breakfast near the bay.
She said the area appealed to tourists because of its serenity, beautiful night skies and abundance of animals, including sea-life – all which she believed were under threat.
“Right now what I hear at night time is boobook owls, kookaburras and nothing else – it’s silent,” she said.
“There’s beautiful night skies and that’s all going to disappear.”
Ms Zealand expected the seaport, if approved, to be visible from the side of her property and its balcony, and noise from its operations and truck movements to change the area’s appeal.
“For me, it’s a nightmare,” she said.
“This is supposed to be my pathway to retirement and with everything I’ve invested in this, I don’t want to see it all going down the gurgler.”
Yumbah Aquaculture – Australia’s biggest abalone producer – has also raised major concerns about the seaport, which is planned for land next to one of the company’s abalone farms.
Yumbah last month announced it would invest $60 million in a new abalone farm in Portland, Victoria – money which director Anthony Hall said could have been spent on Kangaroo Island, had the company had more certainty about its future.
Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers managing director John Sergeant said if his company’s plans were approved, the timber industry would employ more people on the island than the tourism or agriculture sectors.
“Part of the attraction of the project … is it brings back into the community people who are of working age,” Mr Sergeant said.
“It’s significant for the state – not just the island.”
The seaport could also be used by other agricultural businesses and cruise ships.
Mr Sergeant said smaller, fast boats posed a much greater threat to dolphins and whales than the large, slow moving ships that would only call on the port up to 20 times each year.
“There’s nothing about building or operating a jetty or operating boats that poses any inherent threat to marine mammals,” he said.
“The main thing about managing the dredging program is using the right method, and right route, in the right sea conditions – if you can do these things it’s completely unproblematic.”
He said the seaport would have a lesser visual impact on Molly’s Run than the abalone farm.
“Every major development on Kangaroo Island has been met with fierce opposition,” Mr Sergeant said.
“It’s a big, transformative project and we expect people to have concerns.” He expected most of those would be allayed by the processes outlined in the company’s environmental plan.
Mr Sergeant hoped the community will be consulted about the project before Christmas, and his company could secure approval before Easter.
It would then take about a year to build the seaport.
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