Adelaide University Associate Professor Bronwyn Gillanders, a marine biologist, has said that the proposed port at Point Lowly could harm the cuttlefish population that breeds in that area each year.

She said that extensive research is needed to protect the delicate and unique giant cuttlefish which chose Whyalla as their breeding ground.

“There’s the possibility that it could work out okay for the cuttlefish but you can’t afford to make one mistake with this population.

“I mean it’s so unique in Australia and the world that essentially you’re potentially wiping out a unique species if you’re not careful, at least from that local area.

“My recommendation would obviously be to focus on the area outside of when they’re breeding because obviously they’re there, they come into the area from around May through August/September and the eggs are developing through November/December.”

Associate Professor Gillanders has also been undertaking research on the effect of brine discharge on cuttlefish egg development.

The desalination plant that is proposed for the Point Lowly Peninsula for the BHP Olympic Dam Expansion believes brine levels from the plant will go back to natural levels within 100 metres of output.

“I don’t know how they know that but that’s what they’re hoping,” she said.

“Basically, what we’ve been looking at is the exposure to cuttlefish eggs to an increased concentration of brine.”

Their studies have found that with small concentrations of brine there is a 100 per cent hatching rate but as the concentrations increase, the hatching success rate decreases significantly.

Studies have concluded that an increase in brine leads to survivorship disadvantages.

BHP has been conducting their own studies into the effect of the desalination plant on the giant cuttlefish as part of their Environmental Impact Study.

“The plant is currently in the preliminary design phase,” Richard Yeeles of BHP corporate affairs said.

“BHP Billiton, as the proponent of the proposed Olympic Dam Expansion, has to arrange the preparation of the EIS.

“To do this, BHP Billiton has engaged up to 20 environmental, social, economic and cultural scientists to work full time for more than two years as the core EIS team.

“An EIS for the total project, including the desalination project, is scheduled for release by the end of 2008.”

BHP Billiton said that they also have hired 300 consultants to undertake specialised studies on air quality modelling, brine discharge modelling and economic assesment.

The study will be peer reviewed by 15 “internationally recognised experts”, according to BHP.

BHP said that during an information day held to inform the Whyalla community about the development proposed for the Point Lowly Peninsula, “the issues that raised the most questions relate to the impact of brine discharge into the gulf and protection of the cuttlefish breeding grounds.”