Rare Adelaide butterfly threatened by AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine Osborne shipyard expansion

Alarm is being raised about the $368bn nuclear-powered submarine project’s shipyard expansion threatening rare butterflies.

Alarm is being raised about a rare butterfly colony being destroyed by the nuclear-powered submarine expansion at Adelaide’s naval shipyard.

Butterfly Conservation SA says it is very concerned about the loss of habitat for rare and endangered coastal bitterbush blue butterfly from Osborne Naval Shipyard tripling in size.

The existing shipyard will expand to the northwest into areas of coastal bitterbush shrubs, the only plants in which the butterflies, which grow to only about 2cm in size, can lay and grow their larvae.

Butterfly Conservation SA acting chairman Gerry Butler said his group was planning a submission to rigorous environmental assessment program being prepared for public consultation later this year.

Mr Butler said his group was “very concerned about any loss of habitat for this rare and endangered species”.

Butterfly Conservation SA acting chairman Gerry Butler with a collection of South Australian butterflies including the endangered coastal bitterbush blue butterfly. Picture: Mark Brake

“We look forward to participating in any remediation work or relocation work that may be required,” he said.

First work started in December on the shipyard to build nuclear-powered submarines in Adelaide as part of $368bn project, after a contract was inked for a storage area, bridge and road.

A bitterbush blue butterfly. Picture: Roger Grund

Shipyard expansion plans show the western boundary abutting a Biodiversity Park, a northern Lefevre Peninsula site described by Renewal SA as “primarily for the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, including fauna and flora species and sustained habitats” – including the bitterbush blue butterfly.

Found across South Australia, the butterfly had largely disappeared from Adelaide’s coast but has been reintroduced through coastal and community plantings of the bitterbush shrubs across other parts of the city.

This is part of plans launched in 2021 to enhance butterfly-friendly habitat across metropolitan Adelaide.

HMAS Dechaineux, an Adelaide-built conventionally powered Collins Class Submarine, at Osborne Naval Shipyard in 2022. Picture: Emma Brasier

Defence declined to comment when specifically asked about butterflies at Osborne while the newly created Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), established last year to steer the AUKUS submarine program development, said it was unaware of any environmental concerns around butterfly colonies.

This was despite a reference at a high-level AUKUS briefing led by Defence Minister Richard Marles and top military including RAN Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead now also the inaugural director general of the ASA.

Vice Admiral Jonathan Mead and Defence Minister Richard Marles at Osborne Naval Shipyard in November, 2023, for a press conference about a land agreement for the shipyard expansion to build nuclear-powered submarines. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

During the briefing, former defence minister turned lobbyist and MC for the briefing Christopher Pyne asked what or who would have to move out of the Osborne precinct including the Mutton Bird Cove Reserve to make way for expansion for the submarine build program.

“So we do have a master plan for a production facility for nuclear-powered submarines, taking on board where the original Attack (submarine) was going to be built and extending land around actually into the ponds area as well and we’re working that out with the South Australian Government right now,” the vice admiral said.

When asked about needing to keep the Mutton Bird Reserve, Admiral Mead added: “There’s a butterfly colony there as well that we’re mindful of. But the land will be triple the size of what it was for Attack.”