The Eyre Peninsula’s future role in Australia’s burgeoning space industry has taken another important step with the release of Southern Launch’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex.
The 3,200 page EIS document, which represents the culmination of three years’ work, is now open for a six week period of exhibition. When approved, the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex will become the first site in Australia capable of launching commercial satellites into orbit, enabling South Australia to start capturing part of the $5.5 billion global space launch market.
“This is a very exciting development for us, for the future of South Australia’s space industry and for the local community,” said Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp. “We are a proudly South Australian-based company that is the only organisation in the country to have been granted launch facility licenses by the Australian Space Agency. We believe the Eyre Peninsula’s natural advantages mean it has an incredibly bright future in space. However, before we get to that point, we need to complete the extensive work we’ve done on our Environmental Impact Statement.”
Southern Launch has approval to undertake up to three small rocket test launches by the end of 2021. These launches will help collect vital noise and vibration data during launch events.
“We are absolutely committed to ensuring our operations make a positive economic and social impact as well as work to safeguard the fauna and flora at Whalers Way for current and future generations,” Lloyd said. “This is an important opportunity for us to calibrate and maximise the environmental, economic and social benefit of our potential future operations and for people to understand the benefits a space industry can bring to the Eyre Peninsula.”
The public consultation period runs from Thursday, August 5, 2021, until Thursday, September 16, 2021. There are a number of important ways by which the community can be involved:
- The community will be invited to two Information Sessions in Port Lincoln on Thursday 24 August where they will hear from – and have the chance to ask questions of – presenters from the State Government’s Planning and Land Use Services and Southern Launch;
- The Environmental Impact Statement is available for download at https://plan.sa.gov.au/state_snapshot/development_activity/major_projects/majors/sleaford_southern_launch;
- They can learn more at the dedicated web page www.southernlaunch.space/eis; and
- They can have their say about this important development for the Eyre Peninsula’s future via written submission through the State Government’s PlanSA website
“The release of the EIS represents the culmination a huge amount of work alongside government and independent experts, including MasterPlan who have been central to this process,” Lloyd said. “We invite the people of the Eyre Peninsula to have their say on whether they support this ambitious project and the associated new local space industry jobs it will bring to the Port Lincoln area. Please read our EIS, ask questions during public information sessions, and put your support for this project in writing on the PlanSA website. I look
orward to seeing kids, parents and grandparents help shape their community for future generations.”