Gilmour Space to explore rocket launch impact on Bowen’s threatened species

Gilmour Space is looking to the stars, but first it must look to turtles, birds and whales as it leads Australia’s space race from North Queensland.

Rocket company Gilmour Space Technologies hopes to launch Australia into the stars from a launch site in Bowen, but first it will have to get through humpback whales, loggerhead turtles and sharp-tailed sandpipers.

As part of the project’s environmental review process, the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has asked the company to produce a public environment report on the potential impact of its proposed rocket launches on a long list of species native to the area.

Altogether, 34 species are listed including green turtles, eastern curlews, blue whales, humpback whales, loggerhead turtles, flatback turtles, grey-tailed tattler, curlew sandpipers and eastern curlews.

A Hawksbill sea turtle in the Great Barrier Reef. Picture: Supplied

Habitat protection is also a part of the assessment and the company must outline how its activities might affect the Ramsar Wetlands.

The company’s Bowen spaceport is pegged to launch two orbital space vehicles per year between 2022 and 2025.

From 2026 to 2032, launch frequencies are expected to increase to each month.

In its guidelines for the PER, the department highlights the possibility of increased noise and light pollution, fauna injury and mortality because of rocket or debris strike, chemical contamination in the marine environment and reduction in air quality as some of its concerns.

An Eastern Curlew SUPPLIED

Gilmour submitted its draft PER to the department on February 14.

A department spokesman said the report would be published for public comment for 20 days if it was deemed adequate.

“The proponent will then need to address any public comments they receive in the final PER before submitting it for the final time to the department,” the spokesman said.

“Once this process is complete, the minister (or her delegate) has 40 business days to make a final decision on whether or not to approve the project.

“Assessment decisions are published on the department’s website as soon as they are made.”

Gilmour Space co-founder James Gilmour is confident his company will get the nod it needs to pursue its outer-world dreams.

“We’ve been compiling our technical and environmental considerations for quite some time,” he said.

“This (the PER) is providing more info.

“The impacts are unlikely to be significant.”

If approvals are granted, the company expects to launch its first rocket later this year.

“We’re still navigating the Australian Space Agency and the state government as well,” Mr Gilmour said.

“We are kind of trailblazing and so the onus of responsibility has been on Gilmour to facilitate the various federal, state and local regulations.

“It has been challenging, but adapt and overcome is what we do.

“We will honour our commitments.”

The Black Throated Finch is a serial offender when it comes to holding up major development projects

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The $2bn mine’s approval was held up for years as the company drafted a management plan for the threatened species.