UPDATED 17 Dec: Since October, five local government bodies have rejected Billy Lights Point as a location for a desalination plant. None oppose a desal plant for the Eyre Peninsula region - which they recognise as important to ensuring the water supply - but the location, and SA Water’s process does not pass muster and the ‘do no harm’ principle.
There are much better locations to choose from that won’t destroy a unique and pristine marine environment that is a community asset. That won’t destroy jobs in a $200mn per year aquaculture and fishing industry. And that won’t decimate a $400mn per year tourism industry, and all the economic benefit that flows from those industries.
Rather than sending an expensive wrecking ball through local jobs and the local economy, local government are suggesting SA Water speak to federal or state governments to provide money to build the desal plant somewhere where the effects won’t be so damaging on environment, people, and jobs.
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Lower Eyre Peninsula Council
On 15 October, the Lower Eyre Peninsula Council met and discussed SA Water’s Billy Lights Point proposal which had just then been announced. The council passed a motion rejecting the plan.
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Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula
As the CEO of Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula, Dion Dorward has been opposed to the proposed site for a desal plant at Billy Lights Point and his organisation agreed, passing a motion against it at its October board meeting.
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City of Port Lincoln Council
on 15 November, the City of Port Lincoln Council made its opposition to the desal plant known. It passed a motion stating unless it could guarantee not to harm local industry, SA Water needed to find another home for the desal plant.
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District Council of Cleve
On 16 November, the Mayor of the District Council of Cleve sent out a media release rejecting a desal plant at Billy Lights stating ‘We have 2000km of coastline on the Eyre Peninsula, and I am confident that a suitable location for the desalination plant can be found…’
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District Council of Tumby Bay
On 16 December the District Council of Tumby Bay passed a motion urging David Speirs and SA Water to build a desal plant outside of Boston and Proper Bays