HYDRAULIC FRACTURE STIMULATION IN THE LIMESTONE COAST
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Limestone Coast Local Government Association has a clear and united position.
No fracking should take place in place until a region-wide assessment of the environmental, social and economic impacts is undertaken and the risks are better understood to inform evidence-based decision making.
We recognise the importance of energy security and investment to South Australia. But in the Limestone Coast, any proposal for fracking or rare earth mining must meet community expectations— the right scale, the right place, the right oversight, and clear scientific evidence that our land and water resources will not be put at risk.
Our councils are the closest level of government to the community, and acutely aware of the anxiety and concern that comes with announcements like the one made today.
That concern cannot be dismissed.
This region is built on the strength of its food and fibre industries — industries that are established, sustainable and critical to our economy. We should be backing those industries with confidence, not creating uncertainty that could undermine future investment.
For background:
The Limestone Coast’s globally significant natural assets are central to the region’s identity. Communities are closely connected to local landscapes and continue to balance economic growth with the protection of high-value agricultural land, biodiversity corridors, marine parks and Ramsar-listed wetlands.
The Limestone Coast’s economic strength is founded on agriculture, forestry and fishing, which continue to provide the region’s largest economic output and employment.
The region’s highly productive land, sea and water contributed 36.7 per cent of the state’s Gross Regional Product for agriculture, forestry and fishing.
Most importantly, value-add in the region is responsible for 37 per cent of South Australia’s value-added output in Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing.
Across 21,330 sq km, the Limestone Coast has one of the most diverse commodity offerings of any region in South Australia.
- Wine/Viticulture – six Limestone Coast wine regions accounting for 31% of SA crush
- Dairy - 49.2% of SA’s diary production by value
- Livestock – approx. 900,000 head sheep and 600,000 head cattle
- Seafood- including SA’s largest commercial wild-catch fishery by value, producing more than 1,300 tonnes of Rock Lobster per year
- Forestry - producing 37% of Australia’s house frames, 25% of Australia’s particle board
- Horticulture- including producing 45% of SA’s potatoes
- Grain – Limestone Coast produces 80% of Australia’s Lucerne Seed
Despite existing output there remains significant opportunities to increase value and continue to diversify by capitalising on strong market demand for Agri-tourism.
To achieve continued growth in these sectors, sustainable management of primary production land, groundwater resources and coastal environments is essential to provide investment confidence.