[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Parliamentary Committee urges re-think on Pt Lowly desal

[Parnell]

Media Release
Thursday 6th August 2009

Parliamentary Committee urges re-think on Pt Lowly desal


The cross-party Environment Resources and Development (ERD) Committee of State Parliament has called for BHP Billiton to look for locations other than Pt Lowly for its desalination plant.

The call comes in the Committee's formal submission to Parliament and the Olympic Dam Expansion Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

"The ERD Committee has come to the same conclusion that just about everyone else - apart from BHP Billiton and the State Government - has: Pt Lowly is the wrong location for a massive desalination plant," said Greens MLC and ERD Committee member Mark Parnell.

"All BHP Billiton's glossy spin and weak science to justify Pt Lowly is just a cover for choosing the cheapest option," he said.

After attending a packed public meeting last night at the Whyalla Council with scientists concerned about the likely impact of a desal plant at Pt Lowly, Mr Parnell saw for himself the majestic beauty of the Cuttlefish aggregation in a snorkel expedition this morning.

"Where else in the world can you step metres off the shore and straight into a David Attenborough documentary?

"Even though I was there at the tail end of the breeding season, the size, beauty and sheer number of these magnificent creatures is truly breathtaking.

"It beggars belief that the long term health of this globally unique annual breeding event is at risk.

"I challenge Premier Rann, Environment Minister Garrett and every other key decision maker on this project to take a swim with the Giant Australian Cuttlefish at Pt Lowly before they decide whether this desal plant should go ahead," he said.

The public submission period for the Roxby expansion EIS closes this Friday, the 7th August.

A Summary of the major environmental impacts of the Olympic Dam expansion project can be found at: www.markparnell.org.au
For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893


The information in this e-mail may be confidential and/or legally privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, access to it is unauthorised and any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it is prohibited and may be unlawful