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Desalination and South Australia's Gulfs ecosystems. Click here to jump to our desal background and resources section. Click here for the Latest news/updates When most people hear about desalination they think of a magical solution to the current water crisis. Few are yet considering the impacts of these massive factories on the marine environment. Even if you ignored the huge amount of power required to run desalination plants and the associated impacts (the power use for the proposed Whyalla plant is likely to be comparable to that of a major regional town) the impact on South Australia's sensitive Gulf ecosystems is potentially disastrous. Fishers for Conservation (FFC) is very concerned about proposals for a massive desalination plant at Point Bonython (Whyalla) in the upper Spencer Gulf and another proposed for Pt Stanvac in Adelaide. FFC is working with other concerned community groups such as Spencer Gulf Environmental Alliance (SGEA) and the Friends of Gulf St Vincent (FOGSV) to draw attention to the negative effects this plant is likely to have on the gulf ecosystem and the popular recreational fishery in the area.
Intended to be the largest in the Southern hemisphere the proposed Whyalla desalination plant is expected to provide 120 Megalitres (ML) of water every day for BHPB to use as part of the planned expansion of its Roxby Downs operation, as well as 60 ML a day earmarked for domestic use on the Eyre Peninsula. This would require about 360 ML of sea water to be drawn from the Gulf each day to produce 180 ML of fresh water. Billions of planktonic organisms and larvae will be sucked into the plant, with few if any, surviving the process. According to BHP representatives the intake pipe is likely to be situated in a sheltered nearshore inside a gyre (eddy) identified by the companies modeling. Such a gyre would be likely to concentrate plankton including fish larvae and food. The larvae of recreationally and commercially important fish species such as King George whiting, prawns, blue crabs, garfish and snapper will be killed every day and the effects of this on recruitment of our prized recreational fish species are poorly understood. Based on overseas experience, larger species such as protected Sea Turtles, Syngnathids (seahorses and pipefish) and the Giant Cuttlefish could also be killed by these plants. Under the current Whyalla proposal, hyper-saline water would be pumped back into the upper Spencer Gulf where BHPB contends it would be dispersed by natural oceanographic processes. The actual amount of brine pumped into the upper gulf may be much more than the current projection depending on demands for potable water for Eyre Peninsula and projected future demand of an extra 80ML for the mine.
FFC is yet to be convinced that natural processes will provide sufficient mixing. This represents an unacceptable risk of ecological damage to the unique environment of upper Spencer Gulf and the substantial marine based industries that it supports. SA’s Gulfs are comprised of diverse assemblages of species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet and the upper Spencer Gulf is no exception. The yet to be enacted marine planning process in SA rates this proposed outfall area as highly sensitive and if it were law would only allow impacts that the environment could recover from in a day or two to occur in the area. According to Flinders University Marine Biologist Dr Toby Bolton: A scientific paper regarding the impacts of desalination has rated tropical marine habitats in order of sensitivity to desal operations (Einav et al 2002). Mangrove areas and seagrass beds are rated as number 1 and 3 respectively (tropical coral reefs are number 2 and do not occur in SA). This study is not directly comparable as SA species living in the upper gulf are adapted to a higher than open ocean salinity environment but it is likely that similar processes could apply here. Mangroves and seagrass environments occur extensively in the upper Spencer gulf and are critically important to the life cycle of many of the popular recreational fish species in the region. The upper Spencer Gulf area has high biodiversity, already high salinity, low mixing and is home to the only major giant cuttlefish spawning aggregation in the world, Are Gulf waters an appropriate area to locate a major desalination plant? "It’s clear that this site has been chosen to reduce capital costs to BHPB in the length of pipeline back to the mine site rather than to provide any credible environmental protection. BHPB will turn all of this water into radioactive waste at the Roxby mine” ACF Campaigner David Noonan. Upper Spencer Gulf is home to an expanding marine-based ecotourism industry, primarily due to the unique presence of enormous spawning aggregations of the charismatic Australian Giant Cuttlefish, Sepia apama. A phenomena known nowhere else in the world, major aggregations of this iconic species occur only 200m from the proposed outfall for the recently proposed pilot desalination plant. Giant cuttlefish provide food for snapper, dolphins and other species and are important to ecosystem function in the gulf. Clearly, the upper Spencer Gulf is a sensitive region of high ecological and economic importance that requires prudent management.
Other organisations such as the Commercial Prawn and Sardine fishing industry, the Conservation Council of South Australia and the Australian Conservation Foundation are also expressing concern regarding this proposal. If the desal plant must go ahead, then it’s important that the intakes and outfalls are situated in an area where they will not have a high impact on biodiversity and recreational fish stocks. Alternative locations off SA's west coast could be more appropriate and well within the budget of one of the worlds resource giants, building the worlds biggest uranium mine. FFC, SGEA, FOGSV and marine scientists will be continuing to speak out and actively lobby the State and federal Governments to protect our Gulfs and and ensure they get the recognition and protection they need. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the Roxby Mine expansion including the desalination plant is required by both the state and federal governments prior to approval. This EIS will be put out for 8 weeks of public scrutiny. BHP say this may occur within months. You can help! Send a letter to the relevant Ministers now expressing your concern regarding this development proposal. FFC has provided a template letter to help get you started on our email campaigns page and will continue to keep you informed of developments.
Latest News / UpdatesFlinders University Scientists release research findings raising concern over desalination impacts in SA gulfsResearch findings include identification of Pt Stanvac as an intertidal invertebrate biodiversty hotspot and concerns over the suitability of SA gulf waters for brine dumping from desaination plants: Problems include Dodge tides and the lack of exchange of Gulf waters with the ocean during summer months. Impacts on biodiversity, fish and fishing could be severe and are uncertain. Article from the South & South-West Messenger Newspaper 25Mar08 http://www.messengersouth.com.au/article/2008/03/25/4264_south_news.html Marine life at risk near Stanvac 25Mar08 
Dr Jochem Kaempf (at back) and Dr Kirsten Benkendorff. Picture: Cathy Mundy THE proposed desalination plant at Port Stanvac could kill all marine life in Gulf St Vincent, two Flinders University scientists have warned. Oceanographer Dr Jochen Kaempf and marine biologist Dr Kirsten Benkendorff say the plant could have a dire impact on the environment and the fishing industry. However, Water Security Minister Karlene Maywald has promised the State Government will not compromise the environment in the Gulf. Dr Kaempf said the relatively shallow water and lack of tidal movement in the gulf would make it hard to disperse the brine waste product produced by the plant. He said it was the low oxygen content of the brine that would threaten marine species. "When you put it back in to the ocean it reduces oxygen levels," he said. "Without oxygen the surrounding marine life will die." Dr Benkendorff said increased salinity levels would wipe out the gulf's large squid population. "Squids lay their eggs on the ocean floor. I know for certain that (increased salinity) would kill the eggs," she said. The pair presented their concerns to a crowd of about 75 people at a community forum organised by Onkaparinga Council earlier this month. Onkaparinga Mayor Lorraine Rosenberg said many people were sceptical about whether Port Stanvac was the correct site. "I still think we're pretty much in the dark. There's still a lot of information to be learned," she said. Wildcatch Fisheries SA general manager Neil MacDonald said the environmental impact of the plant was a concern for the fishing industry. "We're certainly much more comfortable with (the plant being located in) more open spaces," he said. Mr MacDonald said "millions of dollars" of fish were harvested in Gulf St Vincent including about 50 per cent of the state's garfish and calamari. "We're certainly interested in seeing what the environmental consequences are." In an emailed statement, water minister Karlene Maywald said there were numerous individuals and agencies involved in the environmental study, including the Environmental Protection Agency, the Coast Protection Branch, Planning SA, South Australian Research and Development Institute Aquatic Sciences and the Coastal Oceanography Group at the University of Western Australia. "Full environmental and planning approvals for the plant will be sought as work on the detailed design continues," she said. "The marine studies will be completed by the end of 2008, though the Government is already incorporating early results into its ongoing project planning." If constructed, the desalination plant will have the capacity to supply about 150 megalitres of water a day or 25 per cent of Adelaide's water consumption. The State Government is currently conducting an environmental impact study that is expected to be completed by the end of the year. If given the go ahead, the plant will be in operation by 2012. A pilot plant a small test version of the proposed plant which is currently being constructed on the site is expected to be complete in July. An info night will be held at South Adelaide FC, Lovelock Drv, Monday, March 31, at 7.30pm.
Map of Whyalla trial plant location The footprint of the desalination processes on the environment - including ranking of habitat sensitivity Letter to the SA Minister for the Environment regarding the proposed Whyalla desalination plant - Dr. Toby Bolton Lecturer in Marine Biology, Flinders University—Lincoln Marine Science Center, Nature Conservation Council of NSW submission regarding Sydney desalination plant Sydney Coastal Councils factsheet - What is desalination? Have some more references that are relevant? Let us know
Horseshoe reef and Desalination - desalination for Adelaide getting some early attention in parliament: Excerpt from a speech in parliament made by the Hon Ms Gay Thompson (Reynell): Source: Hansard, House of Assembly, Thursday 3rd May The matter I want principally to address today relates to the Horseshoe Reef at Christies Beach. Late last year, the Hon. Dr Don Hopgood convened a public meeting, entitled, `Christies: can its reef be saved?', in his role as the chair of the Christies Creek Task Force. The meeting was advertised in the local press, and I sent information to people in the southern community who I knew would be interested. As parliament was sitting, I was, unfortunately, unable to attend. However, my staff represented me and provided a comparehensive report on the evening, which I understand was well attended and informative. In addition to a panel discussion, attendees heard from Professor Anthony Cheshire, a marine ecologist who is, amongst other things, chair of the Reef Health Scientific Steering Committee; and also from Steven Gatti, a geologist, who is currently the technical manager of the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board. Southern Australia has a diverse, important coastal ecosystem. We have four times as many types of coral as are found in the Great Barrier Reef. We have 1 100 species of seaweed, 60 per cent of which are endemic to the area. The ecosystems are highly productive, too. Every single square metre of marine flora converts up to 6 grams of carbon each and every day. As important as our metropolitan reefs are, though, they are in danger of being lost for future generations. As populations increase, so do stormwater and wastewater. It is indeed fortunate that the Waterproofing the South strategy, drawing on the Waterproofing Adelaide strategy, was initiated some four years ago. In the past 50 years, about 40 per cent of the seagrass coverage along metropolitan coastlines has been lost as the population impacts on our marine ecosystems. A survey of metropolitan reefs was carried out in 1996, which found that Horseshoe Reef was one of the best reefs along our city's coastline. By 2006, a significant loss of quality of habitat had taken place and, in the survey of that year, Horseshoe Reef was noted as one of the worst. Christie Creek, which flows into Horseshoe Bay close to the reef, has an average yearly flow of 2.7 gigalitres. Some 60 per cent of the creek's catchment area is urbanised, with 33 per cent of the land being used for rural, grazing and residential purposes. The rest is made up of bushlands and horticultural use. Largely, the bushlands are severely degraded. Suburban beaches along Adelaide have long been dredged, but the huge dredge of 1997 did immense damage to the reef. A large plume followed the dredge which, in turn, affected the reef. Until that point Horseshoe Reef had been able to withstand smaller plumes, but the damage of 1997 was a bridge too far. This indicates the need to be very careful about what we do around Horseshoe Reef and in Gulf St Vincent overall. The damage to Horseshoe Reef is an indicator for us to not immediately accede to the demands of people who want to see a desalination plant at Port Stanvac. There may be a desalination plant one day, but I want a complete, thorough and extensive study undertaken before any more damage is done to the valuable coastline in my electorate and nearby areas.
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Things you can do right now to support marine conservation
Learn how desalination could impact on fishing in South Australia's Gulfs. Help stop commercial powerhaul netting from targeting annual spawning aggregations
Learn more about destructive fishing practices in Australia
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