desalination in cuttlefish country
DESCRIPTION
In October of 2011, BHP Billiton's plan to construct a 280 megalitre per day desalination plant on the shore of Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia was approved by Australian and South Australian governments. The plant is designed to supply water to the Olympic Dam uranium, copper and gold mine in South Australia's northern desert. The choice of location has been highly controversial, due to the close proximity of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish breeding grounds and numerous fish nurseries.TRANSCRIPT
Desalination in Cuttlefish Country
What's the plan?
● BHP Billiton to construct a 280 million litre per day plant at Point Lowly (for private use)
● Brine outfall is 3.8 kilometres from Stony Point cuttlefish breeding ground
● Ambient ocean salinity is 38-42 parts per thousand
● Return water salinity (outfall from plant) is 78 ppt
● Will provide approx. 186 million litres 'product' water daily to Olympic Dam
● Annual OD consumption (inc GAB) = 2/3rds Adelaide consumption(SA Water, January 2012)
● Likely to sell excess 'product' to other miners
June 2012 - Dan Monceaux, Cuttlefish Country http://cuttlefishcountry.com
What could happen?
● Ambient salinity may increase due to slow flushing with open ocean
● Brine may 'pool' on ocean floor during dodge tides
● Strong winds can create low pressure systems with potential to draw pooled brine into the shallows - Assoc. Prof. Jochen Kaempf, Flinders University
● Giant Australian Cuttlefish faces total egg mortality at 50 ppt salinity Prof. Bronwyn Gillanders, Adelaide University
● Pooled brine may create de-oxygenated 'dead' zonesAssoc. Prof. Jochen Kaempf, Flinders University
● Plant production capacity can drop to 50% when processing water of 50ppt salinity(as has occurred in the Middle East)
● License conditions may be 'softened' to benefit the polluter
● Olympic Dam will have storage capacity for 2 weeks water supply - Peter Dolan, EPA
June 2012 - Dan Monceaux, Cuttlefish Country http://cuttlefishcountry.com
What are the alternatives?
● Pump Adelaide's waste-water to Olympic Dam(BHP Billiton, Olympic Dam EIS 2009)
● Gravity feed water via pipeline from Tasmania(CE Docklands Science Park, John Martin)
● Appropriately assess alternative desalination plant locations outside Spencer Gulf
June 2012 - Dan Monceaux, Cuttlefish Country http://cuttlefishcountry.com
What are we doing?
We are lobbying for...
● Relocation of approved desalination plant
● Moratorium on industrial developments at Point Lowly
● Fostering of social, environmental and fishery values in Upper Spencer Gulf
CuttlefishCountry.com
…and we're making a feature-length documentary film.
