The sentiment among the local residents who attended was overwhelmingly one of concern about the future of the currently pristine peninsula.

A fuel refinery, a bulk commodities export port, kingfish harbour, a desalination plant, and possibly a second fuel refinery are proposed for the peninsula.

Local resident Allan Nield said that he was disappointed to hear that expressions of interest will be called for the construction of the export port this week, only days after the information session in Whyalla.

“I’m pretty upset, certainly initially,” Mr Nield said.

“My biggest concern is this iron ore export facility.

“The thing that is most annoying is they have the information session today and two days later they call for expressions of interest.

“It means they are already going down that track and it will be all the harder to get an alternative location.”

“It’s more of a make Whyalla feel good day,” Gary Andrew, who owns a house at Point Lowly, said.

“I think it’s a case of it’s already decided before consultation with the public takes place.”

“Whyalla City Council and the city have just been bulldozed by the Rann Government,” resident of Point Lowly, Ray Bowley said.

“People need recreation areas and this is the only pristine recreation area this side of Cowell.”

Many session attendees were concerned that a similar environmental problem that Whyalla city has experienced with the red dust will be repeated in one of the only recreation areas the Whyalla community has.

“My main concern is the red dust problem, if there will be a red dust problem in the handling area and I’m also concerned about the cuttlefish area too and what effect it will have on the shack owners,” Whyalla local Christine Havercroft said.

“I think it’s absolutely disastrous - no doubt,” shack owner Linda Chopping said.

“We moved out there to get away from all this.”

Linda’s husband Des also has major concerns with the development.

“It’s all too close to the residents, as little as one kilometre or so away from people’s homes,” he said.

Point Lowly homeowner Janice Salmon said, “I don’t want to see (Point Lowly) ruined, it is a beautiful spot.

“We’ve got a nice little beach out there and we want to keep it that way.”

John Sowerby, who opposes the development, said that he is very concerned no-one is looking at the bigger picture, of the overall impact of all the developments combined.

He said the fuel refinery expects 20 trucks per day, but when you add that to the four mining companies who want to export from the port, a second fuel refinery and the desalination plant - that’s a lot of truck movements.

“It’s a good start but there’s a lot of unanswered questions because it is too early,” he said.

“I don’t know of anyone who is looking at the bigger picture, all they are looking at is their isolated business.”

Ken Organ from the Cultana Jenkins Shack Owners Association said, “I’m concerned about the future of the gulf with all this development”.

“We’ve had strong views on this for years and it has now finally come to a head and people should be listening,” Nick Kriticos, also from the Cultana Jenkins Shack Owners Association, said.

The State Government said that none of the projects are certain and that all the normal processes of development, including the associated environmental impact studies will be undertaken before any plans are approved.

More on the information day can be found on page five.