One of Australia’s smallest birds is staring down the barrel of extinction.
There are estimated to be only 750 Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wrens (Stipiturus malachurus parimeda) left, and the coastal heathland at Whalers Way is one of the only safe habitats they have.
It is here in an area designated as “habitat critical to survival” for species like the Emu-wren that Southern Launch wants to build launch pads, blast walls and bunkers to fire rockets into space.
What does this mean for wildlife?
The bulldozing of habitat, shock waves from rocket blasts and noise pollution would be a disaster for the tiny Southern Emu-wren and an array of other animals who live on the Eyre Peninsula.
The plans also include storing rocket fuel on site which would pose an unacceptable risk of bushfires in a fire-prone area that saw devastating blazes sweep through in 2005, threatening not only the Southern Emu-Wren but also the endangered Mallee Whipbird.
It isn’t only land-dwelling animals at risk. The risk of rocket debris being sprayed into a known refuge for endangered Australian sea lions and Southern Right Whales has not been fully evaluated. Both species are listed as endangered under the EPBC Act.
Southern Right Whales would be among the species at risk
Why must we take action now?
In February 2024, the ACF community submitted 4700 comments to the CEO of Southern Launch demanding they reconsider these plans.
Now, Southern Launch has released the final documents for the project and a decision is due imminently.
Critical habitat for threatened species must be off-limits for big industry, and strong nature laws should give a straight “no” to projects like this from the outset. It’s because our current nature laws are broken that decisions like this one are the first and last opportunity to protect habitat critical to survival for species like the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren.
Getting clear and upfront protection of forests, rivers and coasts home to threatened animals is crucial to ending Australia’s extinction crisis.
The Minister has the power to stop Southern Launch’s destructive plans now, and we must urge her to do so.
What can you do?
- Email the minister now: protect the Eyre Peninsula southern emu-wren from extinction. Say no to rocket launching at Whalers Way.
- Join over 500,000 people calling for laws that actually protect nature.
