2 year Roxby delay another reason to extend EIS

17/03/09 11:00 am

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has seized on remarks by a uranium industry analyst that the Olympic Dam expansion will be delayed by 2 years or more, to call for a longer public consultation period for the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

“The Government is rushing through the EIS in order for the company to then sit on its hands for 2 years or more,” said Greens MLC Mark Parnell.

“The only step in the approval process that has been cut short is the one where ordinary South Australians get a chance to have their say,” he said.

Resource Analyst Warwick Grigor told a uranium conference in Adelaide yesterday that the Olympic Dam expansion project is likely to be delayed for at least 2 years.

The Olympic Dam expansion will be the largest project in South Australia’s history, yet the Government proposes the EIS public consultation period will be less than what was recently provided for caravan park zoning or a shopping centre at Victor Harbor. In response the Greens have introduced a Bill into State Parliament that will set a minimum consultation period of 3 months.

“BHP Billiton has taken over 3 years to write the EIS, and then will likely wait another 3 years before they decide whether to begin the project. Giving the SA public more time to read the largest document ever printed in South Australia when it’s released on May 1 will not delay the Roxby expansion project one single day.

“There is absolutely no reason why the Government shouldn’t give the public a little longer. We can only assume the public consultation period has been deliberately squeezed in order to minimise the opportunity for the general public and industry to respond.

“I urge the Government to keep faith with the SA community and support the Greens Bill to extend the public consultation period on the Olympic Dam expansion,” said Mr Parnell.

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