In Port Lincoln, South Australia, Mark Andrews oversees the mussel farming operations at Yumbah Mussel Holdings, contributing significantly to Australia's mussel production. The company's success is credited to the presence of natural larvae in the protected bays where they harvest up to 40 tonnes of native blue mussels weekly. However, a proposed desalination plant at Billy Lights Point poses a significant threat to the company as its intake and discharge pipes could impact the water quality and mussel settlement in Boston and Proper bays.
The worries extend beyond Mr. Andrews, as marine scientist Paul McShane points out the uncertainties surrounding mussel larvae movement and the potential risks posed by the desalination plant. Local authorities, like Port Lincoln Deputy Mayor Jack Ritchie, have voiced concerns over the project's location near a thriving aquaculture zone, raising doubts about the sustainability of the region's food source. Even the Barngarla traditional owners have expressed their opposition to the project, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding the environment and indigenous interests.
While SA Water argues that the desalination plant is necessary to address water security issues in the Eyre Peninsula, stakeholders like Mr. Andrews stress the need for exploring alternative solutions that do not jeopardize existing industries. The company's concerns about the rushed nature of the project's planning and the potential risks it poses to their business and employees highlight the complex interplay between economic development and environmental conservation. With tensions rising between water security needs and environmental preservation, the community and stakeholders await the outcome of the development application for the controversial desalination plant.