Rocket Launch Facility Grounded by Native Vegetation Ruling
A proposed rocket launch facility in South Australia has been grounded by a ruling from the Native Vegetation Council, which rejected a bid to clear native vegetation for the site. The facility's proponent, Southern Launch, had sought to build a complex that would offer space mission services, but conservation groups have raised concerns about the impact on endangered bird species.
The future of a proposed rocket launch facility in South Australia is uncertain after its proposal was rejected due to concerns over native vegetation.
The Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex, located 30 kilometres from Port Lincoln, had been proposed by Southern Launch as a site for space mission services. However, the Native Vegetation Council has rejected the motion, citing the site's status as a recognised conservation area for native vegetation and fauna.
Rebecca Boulton from Birdlife Australia welcomed the decision, saying the site is home to two endangered bird species.
"A couple of species down there at Whalers Way are part of our recovery team, so the mallee whipbird is one of the species that we work with, and the Eyre Peninsula is the stronghold for that species," she said.
"We also work on another emu wren species, not your Eyre Peninsula species, but it's also a very important site for those two species."
Southern Launch had sought to have the heritage agreement officially amended to allow for the construction of the complex. The company has been conducting rocket test launches at the site since 2021, but has faced opposition from conservation groups, including the local Eyre Peninsula Environmental Protection Alliance.
One of the test launches failed after the rocket caught fire. Southern Launch has since continued operations at its other facility at Koonibba Test Centre, further up the west coast of Eyre Peninsula.
Regional Development Australia Eyre Peninsula (RDAEP) CEO Ryan Viney said the RDA board had been supportive of the development of the space industry across Eyre Peninsula.
"We've seen facilities developed in Koonibba, and we've seen some really positive outcomes for the community at Koonibba and we'd like to see that continue and develop across the [across the] whole Eyre Peninsula," he said.
"We think that it's an opportunity for Australia to develop some sovereign capabilities in this space, which is particularly important in terms of telecommunications and AI as they develop, so we think it's a really complementary industry that can diversify our economic base."
Ms Boulton said Birdlife Australia understood the heritage agreement decision could be overturned by the state government, but hoped the minister would listen to the Native Vegetation Council (NVC).
"There's been a lot of attention to this rocket launching facility, mostly because of where they've decided to do it, in a heritage agreement area, when there's a lot of Eyre Peninsula coastline that is already cleared," she said.
A state government spokesperson said the NVC had advised Southern Launch that its application had not been approved, and that the matter could go back to the NVC for reconsideration if Southern Launch sought to change its application.