Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has grilled South Australian government officials over a rocket-launching development “bang in the middle” of an environmentally sensitive site.
Key points:
- Senator Sarah Hanson-Young raises environmental concerns about Southern Launch’s Whalers Way orbital complex
- Southern Launch hopes to make its newly constructed launch site permanent next year
- The company says it has comprehensive environmental and emergency plans in place
The senator, speaking at a Senate estimates hearing yesterday, said she was not in support of the controversial rocket launching development at Whalers Way, south of Port Lincoln, becoming a permanent fixture.
“It is an environmentally sensitive location.
“Why on earth would we have it right bang in the middle of what is already considered a heritage area under state protection?”
Southern Launch, which recently constructed a launchpad complex at the popular tourist site, has approval to test two launches by the end of the year and hopes to make the site a permanent launch complex early next year.
In September, the company made several attempts to test Taiwanese company TiSPACE’s 10.2 metre Hapith-I rocket, which were unsuccessful as the rocket caught alight and disintegrated.
Vulnerable species ‘at risk’
Senator Hanson-Young said she was concerned about the impact future rocket launches would have on vulnerable species.
“We’ve got the emu wren, that is already endangered, we have sea lions not far away on the coastal areas there that is threatened and endangered and, in fact, still waiting on a proper protection plan from the federal government,” she said
A government official confirmed in the estimates hearing that 54 public comments had been received about the company’s project, most of which focused on social and economic reasons against the development.
Senator Hanson-Young said she shared concerns with some locals who contacted her office about potential bushfire risks.
“Our climate is drying, bushfire risk is getting more and more intense,” she said.
Three years of planning
Southern Launch CEO LLoyd Damp said the company had dedicated the past three years to developing a comprehensive 3,200-page environmental impact statement in consultation with a range of industry experts.
“We were able to demonstrate when we attempted the first launch, when we did have a fire on the launch pad, we were able to manage the situation and make sure that the environment was never put at risk.”
Mr Damp said during the last attempt a small shrub was singed, as was some nearby grass.
He said that the company was planning to set up its own first-responder team to cover any fire, medical or other emergencies in the event that the site was approved for permanent use.
Mr Damp added Southern Launch was committed to giving back to Whalers Way.
“This strategy includes removing decades of dumped rubbish from the site, sponsoring research to contribute to the body of knowledge on the lower Eyre Peninsula’s fauna and flora, implementing a weed, vermin and feral animal eradication program, reintroducing native vegetation and working to entice local raptors to once again nest along the Whalers Way coastline,” he said.
