00:00 This is the proposed site for a new Port Lincoln desalination plant, but it's an area bungalow
00:08 elders say is too important to lose.
00:10 I just want to say how important this area is to us, historically, culturally, the significance
00:17 of this place has such great meaning to us.
00:20 The desalination plant would service the entire Eyre Peninsula, which is fast running out
00:25 of water.
00:26 SA Water has been dealing with the issue since 2007, but it's now an urgent problem, with
00:33 the current underground water likely to run dry by next year.
00:37 But the Bungalow people say their concerns for their heritage have been ignored.
00:41 All I'm saying is talk to us more, because this place, we do not want this desalination
00:46 plant here.
00:48 The Bungalow people have a successful history in fighting government, last year winning
00:52 a federal court case to overturn a decision to put a low-level nuclear waste facility
00:57 near the Eyre Peninsula town of Kimber.
01:00 But the Premier insists his government is prepared to listen.
01:02 I'm not aware of any accusation from Bungalow towards me not being willing, as a Premier
01:08 or other senior leaders within the political arm of government, not being willing to engage
01:13 with the Bungalow people.
01:15 The Bungalow are not the only opponents to the plant's location, with the project attracting
01:20 public protests and rallies.
01:22 The aquaculture industry has been at the forefront, saying a desal plant spells disaster for mussel
01:27 and finfish farms and could impact 200 jobs.
01:31 This is an industrial site, it's going to discharge hyper-saline water and chemicals
01:35 into the bay.
01:36 It's a low, shallow bay with very poor water exchange, and it's not the site for a desal
01:42 plant.
01:43 The aquaculture industry says it would consider joining the Bungalow people's legal action.
01:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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