A Rocket Launch Site Has Been Approved at Whalers Way in South Australia

Whalers Way, Eyre Peninsula, South Australia | Photo by John Martin Photography

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has approved a proposal for a rocket launching complex at Whalers Way on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, despite resistance from environmental groups and community members.

The area, known as Whalers Way, is home to a range of endangered bird species, including the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren and the Mallee whipbird. The fragile coastal heathland sits on the coastline of the Eyre Peninsula, just 30 minutes south of Port Lincoln. The launch site will require the bulldozing of 24 hectares to build launch pads, blast walls, and bunkers.

South Australia – The Space State

South Australia is Australia’s space epicentre and hosted the country’s first rocket launch at Woomera in the 1950s. The Australian Space Agency is located in South Australia and is rapidly expanding, with a goal to create an additional 20,000 jobs by 2030. The state is investing heavily in the sector, encouraging private investors, companies, start-ups, and research institutes to bring their businesses to South Australia.

This particular area has been earmarked for this launch site since 2020 due to the site’s stable year-round weather and low maritime and air traffic. Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp stated, ‘We are looking forward to working closely with environmental experts to implement the first management plan for this private property and delivering a net environmental benefit for native fauna and flora found in the area’.

Zero New Extinctions

In October 2022, Minister Plibersek released the Threatened Species Action Plan: Towards Zero Extinctions. This act ensures that any project that further threatens a species listed in the EBPC (Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation) Act, due to it being  endangered or critically endangered, may need environmental approval from the Federal Minister.

Environmental conservation groups, including the Australian Conservation Foundation, have pointed out the hypocrisy of the Minister’s decision, which will destroy ‘critical habitat’ for the endangered Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren, which only has 750 birds remaining. These tiny birds weigh only 9 grams and will now have to contend with mighty shock waves, noise pollution, and potential rocket fuel fires.

Another species that calls this isolated and exposed ecosystem home is the endangered Mallee whipbird. There are approximately 2,000 remaining, of which 80% live on the Eyre Peninsula.

South Australian Senator and Greens spokesperson for Environment and Water, Sarah Hanson-Young said, ‘The Environment Minister has one job: protect the environment, but her decision today will trash this pristine part of South Australia and threaten endangered wildlife and animals’.

Next Steps for Whalers Way

Now that the Environment Minister has approved the Southern Launch complex under the EPBC Act, it requires final approval from the South Australian Planning Minister, Nick Champion.

ACF has launched a letter-writing tool, encouraging people to reach out to their local Labor representative urging them to revoke their approval of the Whalers Way Launch Complex. ACF recognised that ‘all Labor representatives in Parliament need to push for strong nature laws’ and to remind them of the Albanese Government’s pledge of no more extinctions.