The Damage RePORT - Where to for SA's 'Mining Boom'?

The Damage RePORT:

Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. May 2012

Where to for the South Australian mining boom?

Where are we now?

Where are we going?

● More investment, statewide (equivalent $ to ODX)

● Subsidised exploration (PACE program, 2004-14)

● Woomera Protected Area open

● Unconventional Gas

● Offshore oil and gas

● Desal plants, freight corridors & port developments

Paths to market...

Upper Spencer Gulf Ports

Point Lowly

Desalination Plants

Potential 214.5 ML brine output daily

So, what ifsalinity rises?

Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. October 2012

Middle Eastern desalination plants in gulf systems caused increased local salinity (40ppt → 50ppt)

Dodge tides may allow brine to pool & create deoxygenated zones

Total egg mortality for Giant Australian Cuttlefish occurs at 50ppt salinity

Salinity sensitivity of other species' early life stages unknown

Increased shipping, so what?

● Gulf at deepest is 26m, narrow channel

● Cape-sized vessels need 20+ m depth

● Propellers mobilise sediment (including metals)

● Increase turbidity

● Increase risk of accident (spill, grounding, collision)

● Increase submarine noise pollution

● Introduction of invasive species

Paths to market...

Lucky Bay

Photo (c) Richard Wylie

Port Spencer

Cumulative impact study?

● 1000 shipping movements predicted annually in USG by 2020 (Draft Marine Park Mgmt Plan)

● Potential 214 million L/day of brine return to USG & 55 to 137 million L/day at Port Spencer

● We recommend a Commonwealth Strategic Assessment of the region & moratorium on Point Lowly developments.

Documentary film coming, early 2013.

Dan Monceaux, Director – Danimations Pty. Ltd. October 2012

Find out more at

http://cuttlefishcountry.com

Dan MonceauxDirector, Cuttlefish Country

ph. 0411 039 592dan@danimations.com.au