News

Public Consultation for wharf proposal starts

29 March 2019
James Brook and David Wiltshire of Social and Ecological Assessment prepare to dive at Smith Bay, while doing the marine ecology assessment.

The public consultation period for Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers’ proposed Smith Bay Wharf is now open.

The Minister for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure made the announcement yesterday and published notices in The Advertiser in Adelaide and The Islander on Kangaroo Island.

Electronic copies of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are available here. Recognising that many Islanders have limited internet services, the EIS will also be available free of charge as a USB.

KIPT urges all shareholders and supporters of our project to respond to the public consultation. If you need more information about this, please email [email protected].

The EIS sets a new standard for environmental assessment in South Australia, as is appropriate in a sensitive environment like Kangaroo Island. The Minister has decided that members of the public, businesses and government agencies will be able to lodge submissions during the two months until 28 May 2019.

The Minister has also decided on the number, form and timing of the information sessions to be held during the public exhibition period. Sessions will be held in each of Kingscote, Parndana and Adelaide, in early May.

KIPT will address all submissions that are received during the consultation period. It may modify its proposal slightly to address any concerns and objections, or to increase the benefits of the proposed facility to the environment, economy and community.

The Company believes that the project will then be capable of receiving approval, given that the EIS demonstrates that its environmental effects are minimal and manageable, and that the mobilisation of the hitherto dormant timber sector on Kangaroo Island is of great benefit to the Island, the State and to Australia’s exports more generally.

For example, modelling by BDO EconSearch for the EIS shows that the resulting employment and economic growth on Kangaroo Island would otherwise take almost 30 years to accrue at current rates, creating the equivalent of about 234 permanent full time jobs on the Island.