Will copper be exported from Point Lowly?

How can we be certain that copper will not be exported from Point Lowly?

The answer is we can't. The problem with copper is that it is highly toxic to marine life and this includes the cephalopods such as the Giant Australian Cuttlefish. This becomes amajor problem when the proposed new port at Point Lowly runs through the middle of the breeding grounds for the Giant Australian Cuttlefish.

The Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Paul Holloway, has told the Whyalla News (Reporter Anna Greer 8/12/2008) that it was too "premature" to be talking about what commodities will or will not be moved though the port. He went on to say that "We are interested to hear what Flinders Ports have to say about it" and "Clearly where you would export from is a complex decision based on ecconomics, and will depend on the proximity and there are other factors also in terms of the port itself and how it might be structured."

Richard Yates, the BHP manager for forcoroporate affairs is quoted as saying "We are continuing to evaluate longer term port options"

Gloom and doom for the environemnt and cuttlefish

With BHP and oher mines in the region producing copper concentrate and wanting to export it, if a port is constructed at Point Lowly, it would have to be considered as an export point for copper concentrate. Then the decsion will be ecconomics or the environment, and with the Rann Governments track record on protecting the environment for future generations, the Cuttlefishes future would look very gloomy indeed.

Lights back on

The Whyalla Council has turn the Point Lowly Lighthouse light back on with a dimmer yellow light