Major blow: destructive rocket launching facility approved

In a late afternoon decision, the Albanese government has approved the destruction of coastal heathland for a rocket launching facility at Whalers Way on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula.

“This is an incredibly disappointing decision that flies in the face of the government’s commitment to zero new extinctions,"  Australian Conservation Foundation’s nature campaigner Darcie Carruthers said. 

“There are believed to be only about 750 Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wrens left in existence and an important population of this endangered subspecies is directly in the path of Whalers Way.    

“The government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee has emphasised the importance of protecting all remaining habitat. 

“It is hard to believe a Minister for the Environment would allow habitat that has been described as ‘critical’ for the survival of an endangered species to be destroyed for rocket launch pads, blast walls and bunkers. 

“The bulldozing of the emu-wrens' coastal heath home – not to mention the shock waves, noise pollution and potential rocket fuel fires – could push this beautiful little bird even closer to extinction. 

“Some projects are so harmful to nature that approving them should be out of the question. The fact this was given the go-ahead demonstrates that Australia’s nature laws truly are broken and powerless to rein in businesses like Southern Launch from bulldozing the bush. 

“There is no excuse for this project to be built on top of threatened species' habitat. A pair of tiny emu-wrens typically lives in just one hectare of good quality habitat. This project will flatten nearly 24 hectares of their home.  

“Our national nature laws should be able to say a resounding ‘no’ to projects that will decimate the habitat or threatened animals. Along with the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren, the endangered Mallee whipbird, Australian sea lions and southern right whales could all suffer if this project goes ahead. 

“Australia needs the Albanese government to deliver its promised reforms to our nature laws in full and work with others in parliament to create an independent, well-funded environment protection agency to enforce it so projects like this get a straight ‘no’ right from the start and places like Whalers Way are respected, not wrecked.”  

In July 2023 Minister Plibersek approved Conservation Advice that said all known sites, including Whalers Way, were ‘habitat critical to the survival’ of the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren.