The Roxby EIS - What are they trying to hide?

MEDIA RELEASE 24TH MARCH 2009

The Conservation Council of South Australia, South Australia’s peak environmental body with over 55 member groups, have today criticised the State Government for the deliberate guillotining of critical scrutiny of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Roxby Downs expansion.  

The Government has announced that the EIS which is scheduled for release on May 1st will only be open for comment for eight weeks. This is less than required for a suburban shopping centre!

The Roxby EIS will detail what will be the single biggest project in South Australia’s history. The largest document ever produced in SA, the EIS must address major issues such as: the massively increase in demands for SA’s power and associated infrastructure, the huge demand for water and the impacts on the coast and marine environment through the construction of a proposed deep sea port and desalination facility at Point Lowly.

“CCSA firmly believes that if the expansion of Roxby Downs is to proceed, it must be world’s best practice – including the public consultation aspect. With this pitifully short period available for the community’s consideration and feedback, the public are denied an opportunity to really examine and understand what is going on” CCSA CEO Julie Pettett stated.

“If BHP-Billiton has negotiated for such a short public consultation, it begs the question about whether they are trying to hide something” Ms Pettett asked.   “Why aren’t they committed to a full, frank and timely evaluation of the projects costs and benefits?”

“South Australians deserve the opportunity to understand the full complexity around the Roxby expansion. If the State government is sincere, it will support the Bill before the Upper House to ensure a minimum period of public consultation that does not prejudice the South Australian public’s right be fully informed and engaged in a project that will set the economic, social and environmental direction of this state into the next few decades and beyond” she said.



Release Ends. For furtherinformation please contact:
CEO Julie Pettett0417879 439 or Campaigner Jamnes Danenberg 0411 028 930