Calls to end water extraction from Great Artesian Basin before culturally significant springs are lost
Arabana ranger Zaaheer McKenzie says mound springs at the Great Artesian Basin are culturally significant. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
In short:
The Arabana people say water extraction by miners from the Great Artesian Basin is causing damage to the outback springs that are considered culturally and ecologically significant.
BHP says it will end extraction from one wellfield and switch to desalination water, but the SA government's Northern Water project is delayed.
What's next?
An environmentalist says the state government should commit now to closing the wellfield closest to the mound springs.
Environmentalists are calling for mining giant BHP to end its water extraction from the Great Artesian Basin when a major desalination plant is built in South Australia's north.
The company currently extracts more than 33 million litres a day from the basin for its Olympic Dam operations, and the traditional owners — the Arabana people — say it is damaging the local mound springs.
Arabana ranger Zaaheer McKenzie says the springs are culturally and ecologically significant.
An environmentalist says the outback springs are listed as an "endangered ecological community " under federal laws. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
"A lot of our springs have got cultural stories to them. We call it Ularaka, which means history time," he said.
"If you take some of those springs away or destroy them that sort of breaks that connection to Ularaka, our stories.
"Our springs are connected, and not only that, the biodiversity of that spring you know you've got a lot of animals, birds, kangaroos, emus, dingoes, everything drinks at those water points."
The state government is proposing to build a large desalination plant in the Upper Spencer Gulf, a project known as Northern Water.
It would provide water to BHP and other industry in the north of South Australia.
A chance for protection
Environmentalist David Noonan has long campaigned for the outback mound springs to be protected.
"The springs are listed as an endangered ecological community under federal environmental laws. They're recognised under the state's laws," he said.
"They're unique assemblages of species, some of which only exist in particular spring groups, whether it's little fish or snails."
Environmentalist David Noonan says water extraction at the basin should end sooner. (ABC News: Daniel Taylor)
Mr Noonan has called on the state government to make ending extraction from the Great Artesian Basin a pre-condition of access to desalination water.
"We've seen really significant ecological and cultural values be lost to South Australia and we really now have an opportunity to finally realise protection for these unique and fragile springs," he said.
In a statement, a spokesperson for BHP says it acknowledges the cultural significance of the Great Artesian Basin and the mound springs to the Arabana.
It said it would end extraction from the wellfield closest to the springs when the desalination plant comes online.
"We have committed to cease abstraction from Wellfield A with the arrival of the Northern Water project," it said.
"We remain committed to constructive and respectful engagement with traditional owners as we continue to manage our GAB use responsibly."
But the company also has a second wellfield, and it says access to Great Artesian Basin water may be retained as a contingency, if Northern Water supplies are interrupted.
Zaaheer McKenzie says the mound springs at the Great Artesian Basin have cultural stories to them. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)
Energy and Mining Minister Tom Koutsantonis said a final investment decision on Northern Water still has not been made.
"Negotiations with BHP throughout this process should appropriately remain confidential," he said.
"If Northern Water proceeds, it will significantly relieve reliance on the Great Artesian Basin."
Northern Water was initially forecast to be built in 2028 but the government is now projecting it will begin delivering water later — in 2032.
Mr Noonan said extraction from Wellfield A should end sooner.
"The South Australian public and the Arabana people as traditional owners of the mound springs, they shouldn't have to wait until the 2030s to realise the long delayed Northern Water project that might finally realise benefits from the springs," he said.
"The premier should be committing now to closure of the smaller Wellfield A that's located in the most adversely impacting place, right among the springs themselves and put in place a plan to phase out the larger Wellfield B."