Posted on February 15, 2018
Political opposition has mounted to Port Adelaide’s plans to dredge to accommodate larger containerships.
Australian Greens’ South Australian parliamentary leader Mark Parnell said the project risks “massive” environmental harm and has suggested that details of the Environmental Protection Authority’s advice on the dredging is being kept secret.
Mr Parnell said one of the most important assessments from the EPA will be whether dredged material could be more safely disposed of on dry land rather than at sea.
He said the EPA’s advice won’t be released prior to a planning assessment of the A$50m project. “This secrecy makes a mockery of both the independence of the EPA and the State Planning Commission’s commitment to openness and accountability.”
Flinders Ports has defended the plan to widen Port Adelaide’s Outer Harbour Channel to accommodate larger containerships as essential to protect the import and export industry in South Australia.
The Flinders Adelaide Container Terminal is the only container terminal in South Australia.
Source: PORTSTRATEGY
