SANTOS LEAK
Wake up call for Whyalla
The Save Point Lowly group says the on-going Santos oil leak at Point Lowly is a wake up call for Whyalla.
Save Point Lowly group project officer, Tom Cheesman said, “The Mining Tax debate has shown that Whyalla needs options other than just minin
g and industry. For decades Whyalla has been at the mercy of commodity prices, currency, stock markets, tax changes and the boom/bust cycle. When is the city going to wake up to the need to diversify?”
Some like Mayor Pollock have said the Mining tax will make Whyalla a ‘Ghost-Town’ even though the full details are not yet known.
Mr Cheesman said, “It is an unfortunate irony that those such as the Mayor, the State and Federal representative who are going to Canberra to discuss the Mining Tax asking for a special exemption, are the same people that have done little to diversify Whyalla’s jobs base.”
A Deepwater Disaster on Spencer Gulf’s Horizon?
The Save Point Lowly group has met the Federal Governments recent announcement of deep-water exploration at the mouth of Spencer Gulf with much concern. Federal Resources Minister, Martin Ferguson announced on Monday 17 May 2010 that exploration areas will be auctioned off just south of Port Lincoln, right in the middle of the Tuna fishing area and a proposed marine sanctuary.
The Save Point Lowly group say the Spencer Gulf is South Australia’s one of greatest natural assets. Yet regrettably, both Federal and 
State Labor Government seem determined to put oil-royalties ahead of the fishing, tourism and recreation industries. This Federal exploration area comes on the heels of the State Governments approval to give Stuart Petroleum the go ahead to build a diesel storage and oil refinery on the Point Lowly Peninsula in January.
Environmental Impact of Diesel storage questioned
The Save Point Lowly group (SPL group) questioned the appropriateness of the approval of the Stuart Petroleum Diesel Storage facility on the Point Lowly Peninsula in January 2010.
Tom Cheesman said, “The State Government saved Stuart Petroleum millions of dollars by not compelling them to conduct a thorough Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), so we know that risks of an oil leak in the Upper Spencer Gulf have not be properly evaluated.”
The SPL group says that whilst the Rann Labor Government says ‘the strictest conditions have been put in place’ there is no way to prevent an oil spill or clean it up effectively.
“If we look at the string of recent spills, crashes and leaks it becomes clear that the technology to respond to these disasters is ineffective and the existing legislation is toothless.”
CUTTLEFISH EXTINCTION AGENDA
Save Point Lowly says the first version of Marine Park zoning, which reduces the Cuttlefish protection area by 90% is a direct attack on the survival of the Cuttlefish.
Save Point Lowly says the first version of Marine Park zoning, which reduces the Cuttlefish protection area by 90% is a direct attack on the survival of the Cuttlefish; and any pretence that this is a balance between in industry and the Cuttlefish can be seen for what it is, the industrialization of the Point Lowly Peninsula.
Group spokesperson, Dr Andrew Melville-Smith said, “The Government had the opportunity to do the right thing, but now their real intention is there for all to see.”
“The Rann Government want the Cuttlefish to become extinct so they can make Point Lowly an industrial wasteland with leaky petrochemical facilities, toxic desalination and bulk ports exporting minerals.”