Venice Energy Outer Harbor gas depot plans should be stalled to protect Port River dolphins from potential dredge impacts, experts say
How can they dredge 1.8 million cubic metres of material from the Port River without harming the area’s vulnerable dolphins? An expert says a $200m gas terminal should be stalled.
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Dolphin expert Mike Bossley says a gas project involving large-scale Port River dredging should be delayed for at least a year, after five dolphin deaths in six months.
Adelaide-based Venice Energy wants to build a $200m liquefied natural gas import terminal at Outer Harbor, requiring the dredging of 1.8 million cubic metres of material from the Port River bed.
A report to the State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP)’s meeting on Wednesday said the proposal warranted development approval.
In a written submission to the panel, Dr Bossley said there should be a delay of at least 12 months before dredging took place, in the wake of five dolphin deaths since June.
“I don’t know if they’re related to dredging but it’s a possibility,” he told The Advertiser.
The increased noise and water turbidity caused by dredging may affect not just dolphins, but the fish they prey upon, Dr Bossley said.
“It’s also possible that the sediments that the dredges bring up contain contaminants that are recirculated in the ecosystem, whereas before they were basically buried.”
Dr Bossley is working with Flinders University on a study of dredging’s impacts.
At Wednesday’s SCAP meeting, Mark Pierson, of Friends of Gulf St Vincent and Steve Bowley, representing oyster growers, raised concerns about the potential environmental effects of dumping dredged material 30km west of the Port River, in Gulf St Vincent.
Mr Bowley said with Pacific Oyster Mortality Syndrome (POMS) endemic in the Port River, leaving dredged material in the gulf may be detrimental to aquaculture.
Energy finance analyst Bruce Robertson said “importing gas is the next level of climate vandalism” and inconsistent with the country’s plans to reduce carbon emissions.
He labelled the project “a climate-destroying piece of infrastructure”.
Phil Hazell from the Environment Protection Authority said Venice Energy’s dredging plans were “largely a repeat” of a Flinders Ports’ dredging operation completed a few years ago.
“Based on the information so far there has been very little impact associated with the last dredge campaign,” he said.
The company said it was “well aware of what’s required to ensure the safety of dolphins” and would use spotters and other measures to protect them.
Venice Energy managing director Kym Winter-Dewhirst said as Australia moved towards heavier reliance on renewables, the project would help meet its interim gas supply needs.
He said if the project was approved, it was prepared to work with the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary and other organisations on studies of the Port River environment.
The SCAP will assess the project and decide whether to recommend Planning Minister Josh Teague approves it.
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