Smith Bay, South Australia

Smith Bay is a bay on the north coast of Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It lies west of Cape D'Estaing and is accessible from land in the locality of Wisanger via the North Coast Road. Smith Creek empties into the western end of the bay.[1] It is the site of a proposed port for the export of timber and receipt of passenger and cargo vessels. Yumbah Aquaculture has been commercially producing abalone by drawing water and returning it to the bay since 1995.[2]

Smith
Smith
Location in South Australia
Coordinates35°35′S 137°27′E[1]
TypeBay
Part ofInvestigator Strait
Basin countriesAustralia

Port Proposal

Feasibility studies into the prospect of constructing a port at Smith Bay were commissioned and published by Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber in 2014.[3] In 2017 it was declared a Major Development by the Government of South Australia.[4] The port is designed to accommodate timber loading, passenger vessels and general cargo vessels at a floating pontoon in water 10 metres deep. The pontoon would be connected to the shore via a 250 metre long causeway which would support vehicle traffic for the conveyance of tourists.[5][6] The company's Environmental Impact Statement is expected to be lodged in the last quarter of 2018.[6] Mitsui is expecting to construct and operate woodchip loading facilities at the port site if the development proceeds.[7]

Response

Critics of the proposal have expressed concern about the potential impacts of basin dredging, and have claimed that work conducted in preparation of the EIS may have impacted fishing grounds, scarred the seabed and resulted in seagrass loss.[8] Conservationists have claimed that drilling operations in the bay related to the port project "chased" a Southern right whale and her calf out of the bay. The claim was refuted by Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber, who said that the whales left the area before drilling commenced.[9]

Yumbah Aquaculture is also concerned about the potential impact port construction and operation could have on their onshore abalone business, which circulates water to and from the bay for its operational use.[6] Concerns include the mobilisation of sediment "choking" their stock, the importation of invasive species to the area and the impact of a built causeway on local water temperature to which abalone are sensitive.[2]

References
  1. "Search results for 'Smith Bay' Bay' with the following datasets being selected - 'Suburbs and Localities' and 'Gazetteer'". Location SA Map Viewer. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  2. "Expert report warns of "overwhelming threat" to KI abalone farm - InDaily". InDaily. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  3. "KI timber firm touts Smith Bay port feasibility". ABC News. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  4. "Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber Port at Smith Bay". www.sa.gov.au. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  5. "Smith Bay Wharf – Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers LTD | KIPT". Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers LTD | KIPT. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  6. Gorton, Stan (11 July 2018). "KIPT gives progress report on Smith Bay seaport proposal". The Islander. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  7. "Mitsui signs up for KI timber port operations – Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers LTD | KIPT". Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers LTD | KIPT. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  8. Gorton, Stan (21 September 2018). "Commercial fishermen voice concerns over proposed Smith Bay seaport". The Islander. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
  9. Gorton, Stan (31 July 2018). "Smith Bay identified as vital whale, dolphin area". The Islander. Retrieved 14 October 2018.
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