Whalers Way rocket launch site gets SCAP approval

The controversial site of a proposed rocket pad on SA’s Eyre Peninsula has won planning approval for three test launches this year.

Southern Launch has won State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) approval to build infrastructure for three test rocket launches on private land near Port Lincoln on a site also known for its bird life.

Premier Steven Marshall said the company still had to attain a launch licence from the Australian Space Agency – a process which was already underway.

He said results from the three tests would form an important part of Southern Launch’s ambition to build a permanent orbital facility at Port Lincoln, which would be one of only two such facilities in the Southern Hemisphere.

“South Australia is the Space and Defence state and this represents an enormous opportunity for growth, with South Australia in the box seat to tap into the nation’s booming sectors,” Mr Marshall said.

Southern Launch has won approval to build more infrastructure for rocket launches. Pictured is a launch at the Koonibba Test Range.

The approval has been granted under strict conditions, including that an Operational Environmental Management Plan be prepared in consultation with relevant State Government Agencies and local Council, and be submitted to the reasonable satisfaction of the State Planning Commission, prior to the commencement of launch activities to ensure the appropriate mitigation and/or management of potential impacts during the test launch campaign.

Once the tests are complete, all equipment and infrastructure will need to be removed from the site with the land remediated and returned for conservation, recreational and tourism purposes.

A view across the high quality native vegetation at Whalers Way to the ocean. Picture: Marcus Pickett

Southern Launch chief executive Lloyd Damp said the SCAP approval was “a huge milestone for Australia in once again becoming a sovereign space faring nation”.

“Southern Launch has spent the past eight months working closely with a number of government and independent agencies, now having received the approval to construct a temporary launch pad, the whole Southern Launch team is overjoyed and is excited about the future of launch in Australia,” he said.

“We look forward to breaking ground shortly.”

The Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren is endangered in South Australia. This male was briefly captured for research purposes and then released. Picture: Marcus Pickett

The Nature Conservation Society of SA is concerned that test rockets would not reveal the likely detrimental impact of a permanent facility in habitat for threatened species such as the white-fronted whipbird and the southern emu wren.

Society president Associate Professor Patrick O’Connor, who spoke at the panel meeting, said the decision put threatened bird species at greater risk of extinction.

“These birds are nearly extinct from a long series of decisions like the one made by SCAP to approve this development, which could be put in a thousand locations but the company pretends this site is necessary because it is cheapest, nothing more,” he said.

Southern Launch - Adelaide company Southern Launch aims to build a rocket launch facility at Whaler's Way, south of Port Lincoln, South Australia. Map illustrates location of site. Picture supplied by Southern Launch in June 2019.

“If this is the only place we can launch rockets in SA we should rethink our confidence in having a space industry.”

He stressed that the Society supported the space industry but this was the wrong location for the launch facility.

“The tests proposed are designed to show no impact on birds so they can be used to justify the next stage of development, which is right on top of critical habitat,” he said.