As the 2012 Giant Australian Cuttlefish breeding season in Upper Spencer Gulf approaches, South Australian Government departments are sending mixed messages regarding measures to protect the internationally-acclaimed wildlife phenomenon. Today, an extension to the fishing closure was announced, extending its boundary around the tip of Point Lowly to the north. This has been an achilles’ heel for the cuttlefish, who have been fished commercially from this spot to the tune of approximately 20 tonnes of animals per annum. This extension comes as welcome news from PIRSA, but don’t be deceived by this modest gesture of good will. Considering their eggs weren’t sticking to the reef last year, numbers were disastrously low and new predators and development threats were stacking up around them, a few fishing lines could well be the least of their concerns. Below is an image from Google Earth which shows the fishing closure in light blue. It also shows a vision of what the future could look like for the Cuttlefish Country neighbourhood.

Map of Point Lowly - Proposed developments & protected areas

For several years now, the potential expansion of Port Bonython has cast a shadow over the Giant Australian Cuttlefush breeding ground. While the Santos ‘fenceline’ grew in notoriety as an acclaimed dive and marine tourism site (you can find it marked on the Oceans layer in Google Earth) the very same site was being presented to industry as a prime location for a new bulk commodities port. Significantly developed plans for the facility finally reached the public last month, when the project was referred to the EPBC Act, a piece of Federal Australian legislation designed to protect biodiversity and ecologically significant communities. The referral was not announced to the public by press release or any other means beyond the Government’s own website. Even Google Alerts and direct Google searches for the project’s name were unable to locate the page on the Government website. Had it not been for the observations of Greens MLC Mark Parnell, we would have been none the wiser. The development plans were effectively rendered invisible, despite simultaneously being available for public comment.

So where exactly is Port Bonython? It’s on the Point Lowly Peninsula, about 40km’s from Whyalla, on the western shore of Spencer Gulf. A new ore-loading jetty as proposed will pass directly through most populous section of the highly constrained breeding habitat. This begs the question- is this a case of environmental negligence, or an act of aggression against this innocent and vulnerable population? We’d like the think it’s a case of ‘the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand’s doing’ but when you dig a little deeper, the evidence starts to suggests otherwise.

Another long-time political football, the South Australian Marine Parks plan is at last tumbling towards the goal line. Unfortunately it looks, in this corner of Upper Spencer Gulf at least, like the ball is going to hit the post. A newly proposed Marine Park Sanctuary Zone, designed specifically for the protection of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish, has been located conveniently to the west of the Port Bonython site. This allows just enough room for the construction and operation of the newly proposed jetty, and bypasses the heart of the breeding aggregation. Incidentally, the oceanography of Port Bonython also makes it a sub-optimal location for another port in the first place. The site will require a 3 kilometre jetty, and even then, it reaches into a cul-de-sac of ‘deep’ water, barely capable of accommodating the Cape-sized vessels required by the would-be iron ore exporters. Since the port’s original draft concepts of several years ago, many of the potential customers (iron ore mining companies) have opted for alternative solutions, including a new transhipping operation at Lucky Bay, another new port proposal called Port Spencer and the expansion of the Onesteel Wharf in Whyalla.

So what will the cuttlefish of Point Lowly be getting for Christmas (in July)? Right now it looks like an expanded no-take zone (good), a misplaced marine park sanctuary zone (not so good) and a new iron ore jetty (disastrous). Oh, and then there’s the 280 megalitre/day desalination plant for BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam mine, but you know about that already. Oh, and one more thing… a feature documentary film, threading the complex eco-political tapestry together. Look out for more info as the film is completed and release dates are firmed up.

Our work on our Cuttlefish Country documentary feature film has not gone unnoticed, nor unsupported. In addition to our growing community of Facebook fans, Twitter followers and petition signatories, this post is an important acknowledgement of several organisations and individuals who in recent months have contributed to our project’s development with generous sponsorship offers. Sponsorhip opportunities remain open to individuals, groups and businesses whose values align with those to be expressed in the feature film… please email us if you’d like to make an enquiry.

Whyalla Caravan Park – Accommodation Sponsor

The management team at Whyalla Caravan Park have supported our film making efforts with special rates on accommodation at their lovely secluded site at Mullaquana, on the south side of town. Tucked away from the Lincoln Highway, yet in convenient proximity to the town’s airport, we have stayed here in many occasions during this production in a range of their accommodation offerings. From pitching a tent to staying in affordable, yet luxurious cabins, the Whyalla Caravan Park offers accommodation for all budgets and consistently friendly, personal service. We thank Kerry Ramke and her family for their support of our film making efforts, and highly recommend their spot to anyone visiting Whyalla- be it to see the cuttlefish, explore the town’s industrial past, enjoy a fishing holiday or relax on a stop-over for business.

http://www.whyallacaravanpark.com.au/

Greg James Fishing – Cash Sponsor

South Australian fishing celebrity Greg James approached us recently, keen to support our work to promote the preservation of Upper Spencer Gulf’s marine environment. Greg is an avid fisherman with roots on South Australia’s West Coast, where his great grandfather, a sail-maker from Fyn in Denmark settled back in 1884. Also a diver, surfer, swimmer and sea lover, Greg has a passion for the sustainable management of the marine environment. In June 2011, Greg James was appointed to the Marine Parks Council of South Australia to represent the recreational fishing community. We welcome Greg’s sponsorship and support of our efforts to raise awareness of the environmental and social values of Upper Spencer Gulf’s marine environment.

http://www.gregjamesfishing.com.au/

International Medcom – Geiger Counter Sponsor

Based in Sebastopol, California, International Medcom has provided our production with a high-end handheld surface contamination geiger-counter for use in our film. It is capable of detecting alpha, beta and gamma radiation. The Inspector Alert is lab calibrated, provides real-time digital readings and can plot detection data over time with GeigerGraph software. We will be using this device to take our own radiation measurements in South Australia, as we revisit remediated uranium mining and milling sites, and areas in proximity to operating uranium mines. This device should be considered for anyone concerned about exposure to fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi disaster of March 2011, potential contamination of food stuffs etc. It could also be utilised to test exposure to radon gas in home basements, workplaces etc. We thank International Medcom fondly for their support. Look out for their Inspector Alert on screen in the finished film.

http://medcom.com/

Mr Kevin Buzzacott has filed an application in the Federal Court challenging the Commonwealth Environment Minister’s approval of the Olympic Dam expansion. He is represented by the Environmental Defender’s Office (SA) Inc (EDO) in those proceedings. Mr Buzzacott (known as Uncle Kevin) is an Aboriginal Elder of the Arabunna Nation in Northern South Australia, who is concerned about the impacts of the mine on the environment. The EDO is a community legal centre that specialises in public interest environmental law.

In October last year, the Hon Tony Burke MP approved the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Mr Buzzacott says that “The mine will be the largest of its kind in the world, on the largest uranium deposit, and will also mine copper, gold and silver. It is likely to use up to 200 megalitres of water a day and a significant amount of South Australia’s electricity.”

“I’m happy to have an opportunity to challenge the Minister’s decision because I’d like to know and understand how he’s given full approval with all the uncertainties of this proposed expansion. I feel like a tiny voice in this issue because BHP Billiton is so
powerful but my role is to protect the old country.”

 You can hear Uncle Kevin discuss his challenge in the video below.

Since launching the challenge, project proponent BHP Billiton and the South Australian Government have formally joined the case and expressed their desire to expedite court proceedings. Ultimately, the open cut pit will be approximately 1 km deep, 4 km wide and the radioactive tailings (waste) will be stored above ground covering an area of up to 40 square kilometres in piles of which approximately 5%-15% are to be lined. The project is likely to expand again in time, as the deep margins of the ore body are yet to be discovered, suggesting a potential mine life of over 100 years.

Ruth Beach, solicitor at the EDO in Adelaide, said “This case is about making sure that the proper legal process is followed in approving the mine, and if successful has wider significance for other similar approvals in Australia. The EDO’s client is seeking orders from the Federal Court that the Minister’s approval be reviewed and, subject to the Court’s findings, may be set aside and referred back to the Minister for further consideration according to the law.”

Mr Buzzacott is challenging the Minister’s approval on the following grounds:

1. The approval is so uncertain that it does not constitute a proper approval under the Act. This is because much of the environmental assessment and decision-making is left up to plans and studies that have not yet been prepared or considered by the Minister or the public.
2. The Minister did not properly consider the impact of the Olympic Dam expansion on the environment. In particular, the EDO’s client is arguing that the Minister has not properly considered impacts from the above ground storage of radioactive tailings waste.
3. The Minister failed to consider the environmental impacts associated with the export of uranium.
4. The Minister failed to properly consider the impacts of the expansion on groundwater resources including the Great Artesian Basin.

Ms Beach said, “Through this legal challenge, our client is seeking to ensure that the Minister has put the proper environmental safeguards in place, and has properly considered all the environmental impacts of the proposal, as he is required to do under
the law.”

Donations to help Uncle Kevin in his legal battle are most welcome, and can be made by contacting Friends of the Earth, Adelaide. Uncle Kevin invites you to join him for his court hearing at the Federal Court, Angus St (Victoria Square), Adelaide on April 3rd and 4th, 2012.

On March 2nd, it was publicly announced that the expansion of Port Bonython on the Point Lowly peninsula had been granted Major Project Status by the SA Government. Despite claims from State Government ministers John Rau and Patrick Conlon to the rigor of the forthcoming approval process, this should come as alarming news for anyone interested in securing the future of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish breeding aggregation which occurs at the same site each winter.

The expansion plan, presented by the Spencer Gulf Port Link consortium, includes a new 3 kilometre jetty, which if approved, will run parallel with the existing Port Bonython jetty. The existing jetty is currently used exclusively by Santos, for the purposes of shipping their hydrocarbon products to customers around the country. Gas is extracted from Moomba in the Cooper Basin, piped to Stony Point and refined at the Gas Fractionation Plant there.

Flinders Ports - Port Bonython expansion concept graphic

Port Bonython vs. the Cuttlefish – a 3 kilometre jetty, right through Stony Point reef

The heel of the proposed jetty would be located at Stony Point, on the western side of Weeroona Bay- directly over the most popular location for the Giant Australian Cuttlefish to court and mate. It is reasonable to expect that the development of the new jetty would also create additional public exclusion zones, revoking tourism and scientific access to this important site. It will disturb the habitat significantly during the construction of the jetty, which would involve driving piles through the animals’ rocky reef habitat. There is also the possibility of dredging, which is yet to be publicly discussed. It is known that cephalopods are highly sensitive to noise pollution, so construction of the jetty, should it go ahead should be limited to the months of October through to April. The effects of noise pollution on the eggs once laid has not yet been studied, and since both male and female cuttlefish die after mating and laying, this renders the population extremely vulnerable during this gestation period. It may be that ‘safe’ submarine construction activities may need to be limited to less than three months of the year. Something tells me the visiting whales and local dolphin pod won’t be to pleased about this either.

No official counts released, no EPA prosecution for existing contamination at Port Bonython

Presently, the only scientists with access to the waters around Port Bonython and the Stony Point Gas Fractionation plant are those working under Santos directly as contractors. Annual cuttlefish counts are conducted within these waters, though data from 2011, a disastrous year for the animal’s population, has not been publicly released. BHP Billiton, proponents of the recently approved 280 megalitre desalination plant are also yet to release count data from 2011. Santos currently have a problem at their site of groundwater contaminated with hydrocarbons, for which they are directly responsible. The EPA will not be prosecuting, and a Santos employee has informed us that ‘remediation is ongoing’. What does this say about the EPA’s ability to regulate and protect the area’s environment from industrial impacts?

Santos’ track-record at Port Bonython includes a shipping accident at the Port Bonython jetty in 1992 which resulted in 300 tonnes of bunker fuel oil tipping into Upper Spencer Gulf. The occurrence demonstrated that the facility was underprepared for such an event, and by the time equipment and expertise had been sought (from as far afield as Geelong and Port Adelaide) the damage was already done. The oil washed into the mangroves south of Port Pirie, killing the majority (hundreds) of affected birds, and knocking out hectares of mangrove habitat. Locals have informed us that for years thereafter, globules of oil were found rolling about the seabed (encapsulated in dispersant) and the impact of the oil in worm and crustacean burrows could be seen when taking a shovel to the sediment around the affected mangroves. Even minor spills leave impacts which can last decades.

Giant Australian Cuttlefish Couple (c) 2009 Silke Stuckenbrock - SilkePhoto

So what do the Port Bonython cuttlefish need?

So what do the cuttlefish need from us? Well, they don’t need humans to tamper with their water chemistry, create more undewrwater noise, bring in ships from international waters (carrying with them invasive marine pests) or spill minerals or petrochemicals into their habitat. The Upper Spencer Gulf is a slow flushing system and subject to dodge tides, meaning contaminants entering these waters likely to settle in the sediment rather be dispersed out to open ocean. These waters also provide habitat for juvenile snapper, one of South Australia’s prized table fish, and if we pollute their environment it will end up on our dinner tables as it bio-accumulates its way up the food chain.

We understand that the incoming South Australian mining boom requires improved export facilities, but choosing an environmentally suitable location is imperative. Bean-counters and beaurocrats assess projects by cost and convenience, and to date the notion of honest ‘triple bottom line’ assessment of such projects by the South Australian Government remains a pipe dream.

If you believe as we do, that the expansion of Port Bonython is environmentally inappropriate, be sure to write to Ministers John Rau and Patrick Conlon and express your grave concerns.

We invite you to join us at Gallery M, Marion Cultural Centre, South Australia on Friday, March 9th at 6.30 pm for a very special art exhibition opening. The group exhibition is entitled The Demise or Otherwise of South Australia’s Gulfs and it will feature the works of over 90 artists from across South Australia with a wide variety of perspectives and artistic disciplines. The works are individual creative responses to the Save Our Gulfs Coalition‘s environmental conservation and sustainable development objectives. The Gulfs in question are Spencer Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent, which lie between York, Eyre and Fleurieu peninsulas. Their amenity, fertility and biodiversity render these waters and coastal zones with tremendous social, environmental and economic value.

We are contributing three episodes from the Danimations’ online video series Naturescope; each produced on Eyre Peninsula whilst developing our Cuttlefish Country documentary feature film. The first episode introduces the Giant Australian Cuttlefish aggregation which occurs annually near Point Lowly, and can be seen below.

The industrialialisation of the Point Lowly Peninsula

The next episode looks at the other wildlife on the Point Lowly Peninsula, whose future is threatened by plans to industrialise their home. Current plans include:

• Port Bonython expansion: an additional 3 kilometre long jetty for mineral exports, storage facilities and rail link
• Deepak Fertiliser: a factory for the production of Technical Ammonium Nitrate, for use in the production of explosives
• Senex Energy: refinery and diesel storage facilities (approved in 2011)
• BHP Billiton: 280 megalitre desalination plant (approved in 2011) desalinating seawater for use at the Olympic Dam mine, north of Roxby Downs

The adverse impacts of these developments (if they are allowed to proceed) will include loss of habitat, increases in air and water pollution, increased freight (by road, rail & sea), loss of amenity, loss of public access (through safety buffer zones around industry) and loss of future income related to tourism and other visitors to the area. These issues will be introduced in this video, and later detailed in our feature film, which is now scheduled for completion in May 2012.

A Little Penguin shelters on Lipson Island, Lipson Cove near the proposed site of Port Spencer

Lipson Cove vs. Port Spencer

The third episode focuses on the little known location of Lipson Cove, where an 8 hectare inshore island conservation park and its fauna are being threatened by potential new neighbours. The island is home to a colony of Fairy Penguins and a myriad of other shore and marine birds, fish, invertebrates and visiting mammals. The development of a bulk commodities port to be known as Port Spencer (previously and deceptively referred to as Sheep Hill) threatens to establish a jetty less than a kilometre from the park’s boundary. Should this location be approved for the port’s development, inputs from the loading of wheat and minerals will contaminate the sea, and any future shipping accident will risk the bird colonies and the contamination of the popular beach of Lipson Cove which is beloved by locals and tourists alike. Residents are also concerned about the possibility of an oil spill soiling the pristine beach of nearby Tumby Bay. Any increase in shipping activity to the area will also increase the risk of invasive species entering the environment on visiting ships’ hulls and in their ballast and bilge water.

Ian Willding - Ghost Shoal (acrylic on canvas)

Art to raise awareness and prompt activation

The ‘Demise or Otherwise of South Australia’s Gulfs’ exhibition itself was conceived and curated by non-profit organisation, the Save Our Gulf Coalition. It aims to raise awareness of environmental and development issues threatening South Australia’s Gulfs and their inhabitants. Once open, the exhibition will be on display from March 9th until April 1st, 2012. The painting above by Ian Willding is just one example of the fine work which will be on display. The exhibition is free to see, and works from the exhibition will be available for purchase. We sincerely hope to see you at the opening, or at one of two ‘Gulf Talks’ sessions, where representatives from the Save Our Gulfs Coalition will be present to discuss the variety of developmental issues facing our fragile coastal and marine environments.

Download the Exhibition Invitation (PDF)

The Exhibition
9 March - 1 April 2012
 The Demise or Otherwise of South Australia’s Gulfs:
 An exhibition curated by the Save Our Gulf Coalition to raise awareness
 of environmental issues threatening South Australia’s Gulfs.

Gulf Talks
 Gallery M: 2pm, Sunday 18 March
 2pm, Sunday 25 March
 An opportunity to meet and chat to the organizing committee
 in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. All welcome, free entry.

Thanks to our families and friends’ generosity (and a fun LEGO party thrown a few weeks back) there are just a few special items remaining on our wish list, and we welcome your donations to help us reach our goal (shipping details at the end of this post). If you don’t have spare LEGO ready to send us, each photo below links out to a seller on eBay where the individual item can be purchased. All LEGO donors will receive a thankyou credit in the completed film, which due to the expansion of the film’s scope is likely to be completed by early May. Please be sure to send us an email, letting us know what you’re sending, and your name for accreditation!

Special LEGO pieces required

Treasure chests & cannon wheels are being cannabalised to make vintage mine carts. The more of the required parts for these we receive, the wider view we can share of the lost days of open-pit and underground mining! Three camels are also required to illustrate the difficult task the original miners at Mount Painter in the Flinders Ranges had early last century, as they packed out radioactive ore on the backs of these amazing animals.

2 x LEGO Camel (light)

LEGO Camel (dark)

LEGO treasure chests (to be used as mine carts)

LEGO Cannon Wheels (for use on mine carts)

A single silver trophy piece is required for use in an award ceremony sequence inspired by the ‘triple bottom line’ of contemporary democracy. A phrase popularly used by politicians but rarely fairly represented, we will use it to illustrate the need for decisions made by Government to balance economic, social and environmental interests and impacts… with playful charm and humour of course!

LEGO Silver Trophy Cup

 

If the proposed expansion of Port Bonython on the Lowly Peninsula goes ahead, a rail link will be built to transport ore to the waterfront for export. We will be building this rail loop out of LEGO, and require several ore carts to be made. Any train wheels, couplings and parts are invited for this purpose. We were lucky enough to already have a battery operated train engine, tracks and sleepers ready to lay, so, with your help, the locomotive will be very much alive on screen in the completed film.

3 x LEGO Train Hoppers (or any train parts)

 

Setting the scene in LEGO

Land and seascapes from our film’s story which will be recreated in LEGO include tan beaches, red deserts, tan ocean floor, the blue ocean surface, brown rocky cliffs, grey rocky reefs, grey and black underground mines and vegetated bushland. In addition to our ‘special item’ requests above, we also invite donors to send us bricks and parts of the aforementioned colours to help us to contour and extend the landscapes as far and dramatically as possible. Flowers and foliage are also appreciated in any quantities, the more white and yellow blooms, the merrier!

 

Classic LEGO flowers (white & yellow) & stems

Our landscapes also require foundations, and construction is made much easier with a ready supply of coloured base plates. In order of priority, we are seeking red, tan, brown & grey base plates. Road base plates will also be put to good use in the construction of the industrial precint planned for Point Lowly. We already have several T-junctions, but a few more straights and bends would be excellent!

Thanks for your ongoing support of our film project, everyone. If you do have something you’d like to send us, or would like to buy something online and have it sent to us directly, our mailing address is:

Cuttlefish Country c/o
 Danimations Pty Ltd
 1/157 Franklin Street
 Adelaide 5000
 AUSTRALIA

If you’ve been following our project over the past few months, you’ll be aware of our plan to create a number of stop-motion animated scenes for our forthcoming documentary film ‘Cuttlefish Country’ out of custom Lego dioramas. To help us reach our goal, we’ve been accepting brick donations of all sorts, and will continue to do so until the film is completed in late March.

We are very pleased to announce that the sets are progressing nicely after a productive afternoon’s play on Sunday. We invited close friends along to a special Lego themed party, and encouraged each to bring a brick or playset donation to contribute to the grand design. All contributors will be honoured individually in the film’s credits. Once complete, the feature-length film will be available for viewing online and will be distributed on the international film festival circuit.

Cuttlefish Country LEGO Party group building

At the party, our friends focussed on the task at hand and produced a hospital surgery, various fire-fighting vehicles and equipment, the cliffs at Black Point and other nautical and industrial vehicles. The surprise donation of the day was a lighthouse playset, complete with mirrored rotating light-brick inside! The lighthouse will be customised from this current design to closely resemble the actual Point Lowly heritage lighthouse- a signature landmark of Cuttlefish Country. Special thanks go out to Nathan and Amanda for their superbly chosen donation, and to party co-hosts Joe and Cathy for helping us make the party happen!

We hope you enjoy these photos from our Lego party, and really wish you could have been there to enjoy it with us. You can view the full set of pics on our Facebook page and once again, donations via post are invited and most welcome.

Early days for the LEGO marine environment in Cuttlefish Country

LEGO  brings the marine environment to life

The marine and coastal environment is central to our documentary film’s story. Above you can see the beginnings of a rocky reef, some boats, scuba divers and sea creatures awaiting assembly. The Point Lighthouse will be derived from the current retail design, seen being assembled below by Nathan.

Nathan building what will become the LEGO Point Lowly lighthouse

LEGO Minifigs up close & personal

Lego Minifigs have evolved rapidly since the 1990′s. Below are a couple of very recent releases who are destined to fill starring roles in our documentary film. The figure below will be part of a clean-up crew attending a spill of uranium oxide, otherwise known as ‘Yellowcake’.

A LEGO radiation worker anxiously stands on a brick-shaped yellow cake

LEGO hospital to demonstrate health risks

This set will be used to demonstrate the variety of health risks associated with industrial hazards. These include lung cancer developed by uranium miners, and the effects of exposure to radioactive waste from mine operations, tailings and fallout from nuclear disasters.

Our LEGO hospital will depict the effects of industrial accidents and radiation exposure

Buy a LEGO inspired shirt to help fund our film

LEGO inspired T-shirts are available to purchase, with proceeds contributing to our film’s production and distribution. Why not snap one up and help us out in the process?

Director Dan Monceaux with a Point Lowly visitor and matching T-shirt

We recommend the following viewing for anyone engaged with or curious about the current debates over the extraction and processing of uranium for use in nuclear power generation. These videos, all of which are available to watch for free online sing a common refrain. In a variety of ways and from a variety of professional and community perspectives illustrate the processes involved with supplying the nuclear fuel chain. Also featured are lessons learned (or not learned) regarding radioactive waste management, the health risks to mine and processing plant workers via radon gas inhalation, radiation exposure and the immeasurable risks facing citizens of the world in the event of nuclear power plant failures (such as Chernobyl, Fukushima, Three Mile Island), acts of terrorism or the deployment of nuclear weapons. It’s heavy material, but of the utmost importance, as the nuclear power lobbyists are pushing harder than ever to have nuclear power take the Captain’s chair in the battle to reduce carbon emmissions. The great ommission from the pro-nuke lobby’s argument that ‘nuclear power produces almost no carbon emmissions’ is in the supply of fuel to the plants. Carbon emmissions are created during the extraction, processing and transportation of uranium to the reactors where they are used as fuel. After the fuel is spent, further carbon emmissions follow, as waste is transported and buried or stored. That’s enough from us for now… better you sit down and soak up these fascinating and informative documentaries for yourself. As always, your comments and further viewing suggestions are most welcome.

Uranium: Is it a country?

This Creative Commons released film traces the source of nuclear fuel back to its source, in this case the Olympic Dam mine in South Australia. Memorable and poignant moments include segments during which a French nuclear scientist exposes the radiation emmitted from containers and transport vehicles, as they transport uranium oxide and fuel rods around Europe.

‘Uranium’ d. Magnus Isacsson

This professionally produced documentary film from 1990 looks at the impacts of uranium mining on regional Canadian communities through the contamination of their environment. It illustrates the effects suffered, battles fought, lost and won.

 U for Uranium?

This casual film focusses on the knowledge and experiences of a group of residents from Australia’s Northern Territory, and includes accounts of Ranger, Jabiluka and Rum Jungle uranium mines. It also touches upon the military uses of uranium, dating back to Hiroshima, and the post-war nuclear arms tests off the Monte Bello islands in north-western Australia. This film also includes an amusing collection of ‘nuclear age’ educational film and industry promotional material, intercut with the informative interviews with scientists, miners, activists and medical professionals.

Invited to a Lego party, but don’t know what to wear?

Hey everyone, as you may well already know, we’ll be animating several scenes for our forthcoming documentary film out of Lego in classic stop-motion style. We’ve already put a call out to our friends and fans to donate bricks for the cause, to allow us to build bigger, better, more detailed sets, vehicles and props in readiness for the shoot in March. Now we’ve decided to take the concept one step further and throw a Lego-themed party, for master builders of all ages! The party will be invite only, but if you happen to live near Adelaide, South Australia, drop us a line and we’ll let you know the details.

As for the dress code, we’re encouraging our guests to come in a Lego costume or primary colour scheme if possible, in the hopes that our room full of ‘real’ people will reflect the halcyon days of vintage lego fun represented by our day’s work. We’ll also be cracking out the official LEGO Creationary Game (3844), which is quite similar to the classic Pictionary, but with building challenges and guessing games rather than drawing ones.

As a thrifty further fund-raising concept for our film, we’ve designed a number of costume apparel items for would-be guests of a Lego party or fans of the modular legacy. They’re available to buy on Redbubble and Zazzle websites, and profits from their sales will help us with the ongoing expense of making a feature documentary. We hope you enjoy our Lego-inspired wardrobe choices below… and be sure to check out the designs on a variety of coloured shirts… you’re not limited to the colours and styles displayed below!

Enjoy your constructive play, everyone…

Dan Monceaux

Royal Blue Vintage Spaceman Logo

Vintage Divers Fish, Seaweed & Dolphin Logo

Vintage Windsurfer Logo

Vintage Airport Take-off Logo

Vintage Dolphin Wave Divers Logo

Classic Lego Knights Shield Logo

Classic Black Falcons Shield Crest

Classic Crusaders Axemen Crest

Forestmen Shield Crest

As we enter 2012, the mystery of the missing South Australian Giant Australian Cuttlefish (Sepia apama) migration of 2011 remains unsolved. These incredible animals, chameleons of the sea, remain in jeopardy and face a variety of new and old threats in the year ahead. Here’s the short video we produced mid last year to recap.

In the months since, our work on the forthcoming feature length documentary film Cuttlefish Country has brought the following information to light:

• In 2011, cuttlefish numbers dropped to around 20% of the expected breeding population.
• Cuttlefish counts have been conducted by BHP Billiton and SANTOS, but neither party has officially disclosed data from the 2011 season.
• A commitment of over $100,000 for research has been made, combining State and Federal grants monies. Granted very late in the season, some habitat mapping was undertaken by SARDI (South Australian Research & Development Institute) immediately, but what further action will be taken in 2012 is unknown.
• Cuttlefish usually start appearing at Black Point and Stony Point reefs when the water temperature drops to 17 degrees celsius. This temperature drop occurred 6 weeks later than expected in 2011, potentially delaying or deterring the breeding aggregation. The problem these animals face is a shortage of suitable rocky reef habitat to lay and attach their eggs to.
• Unusually high rainfall in the area introduced nutrient, and other other inputs via run-off into Upper Spencer Gulf.
• The gulf is a slow flushing system, which can take years to fully circulate with open ocean, as described by the region’s pre-eminent oceanographer Jochen Kaempf.
• A larger than usual cuttlefish aggregation occurred at Backy Point, on the northern side of Fitzgerald Bay. This is usually a secondary breeding site, with limited reef habitat for egg laying.
• Annually a targeted commercial take of approximately 20 tonnes of cuttlefish are caught just outside the no-take zone at Point Lowly. The protected area is being reviewed, and is likely to be expanded in the future to further protect the animals as they pass Point Lowly to join the breeding aggregation. Seasonal protection for the Backy Point aggregation is also under consideration.

• All male and female cuttlefish die after mating and laying, which leaves the population very vulnerable during the spring time. At this time, the adults have expired, and the majority of the population exists as unhatched eggs.
• Eggs have been found washed ashore at Point Lowly beach by locals, along with at least one other cephalopod species. Many eggs have not been adhering to rocks as they typically do. Loose eggs have been seen by local divers, slushing around in deep-water gutters away from the protection of the ledges they are carefully placed beneath by laying females.
• A groundwater contamination case at Port Bonython, adjacent to the Stony Point reef is progressing through court between SANTOS and the South Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). Hydrocarbons were discovered in groundwater at the site. It is possible that contamination entered the marine environment. SANTOS brought this matter to public attention themselves, and responded with excavation and construction of a subterranean barrier wall to prevent the contamination reaching the marine environment. It is unknown how successful this response was and we are awaiting a representative from SANTOS to detail this matter.
• Observations from local divers suggest that an unusually low proportion of the population chose to gather at Stony point in 2011. Stony Point usually has the highest density of cuttlefish of the region’s rocky reefs.
• Clean Seas have relocated their sea-pen kingfish farming operations from adjacent Fitzgerald Bay, south to Arno Bay, prompted by problems with fish mortality and incidence of parasites.
• The Government of South Australia has announced that there is a problem with low snapper stocks in the region, citing an increase in commercial take to be the most likely significant impact.
• Plans to expand the Port Bonython export facility, which would include the construction of an additional 2 kilometre long jetty over the Stony Point breeding site appear to have stalled, due to lack of immediate commercial interest. The junior mining companies which had previously considered using the expanded facility have sought out, or are currently seeking out alternative export pathways. These are likely to involve several new and/or expanded port facilities in Whyalla and elsewhere on Eyre Peninsula. Regardless, potential future port expansion at Port Bonython remains a threat.
• The Olympic Dam mine expansion received environmental approval from state and federal governments in October, 2011. The massive BHP Billiton project plans to build a 280 megalitre desalination plant at Point Lowly, which will output brine into Upper Spencer Gulf, adjacent to the lighthouse. Prior to construction, BHP Billiton will release an environmental management plan and await final approval (or rejection) of the proposed expansion by BHP Billiton’s board in mid 2012. The EPA will finally set licensing conditions for the plant’s operation closer to construction. The plant’s operation is expected to commence in approximately 7-11 years time, according to BHP Billiton’s project timeline.
• Cuttlefish eggs are particluarly vulnerable to increased salinity (a probable result from the desal plant’s brine outflow, due to the region’s slow flushing oceanography, and distance from open ocean). Suggestions have been made for publicly accessible, real-time online monitoring of salinity and oxygen levels in the water at the breeding grounds.
• The Upper Spencer Gulf region has been proposed for the establisment of a new Marine Park, which includes all key cuttlefish breeding sites and Upper Spencer Gulf, extending north to Port Augusta. The process of declaring this and other parks in South Australia has stalled. The region currently houses three long-established Marine Aquatic Reserves with ‘no take’ zones at Yatala Harbor, Blanche Harbor and Cowled’s Landing. These protect fish nurseries for a variety of other fish, sharks and crustaceans. The region also provides critical breeding habitat for Spencer Gulf’s lucrative commercial prawn fishery.

We are deeply concerned for the future of the Giant Australian Cuttlefish of Upper Spencer Gulf. We are afraid that research and monitoring will not be sufficient to save this amazing animal’s population from collapse. This population and its breeding aggregation is not only a true wonder of the underwater world, but it provides a vital food source for larger predatory species, including the much-loved local bottlenose dolphin pod. It would be an embarrassing and deplorable loss for South Australia and the world to see this population jeopardised further by the hasty approval of new industrial developments at Point Lowly or Port Bonython. It would be a responsible decision by the South Australian State Government to place a moratorium on further industrial developments on the Point Lowly Peninsula (aka Port Bonython) and to make recommendations for alternative locations in less biologically sensitive areas. Locals in Whyalla have previously called for the rezoning of the peninsula on many occasions, including councillor Eddie Hughes.

If you’re yet to sign our petition for the relocation of the BHP Billiton desalination plant which has been approved for Point Lowly, please do so at the link below. You can also support our ongoing efforts to campaign in defense of the cuttlefish’s future through the production of our film, by purchasing some campaign merchandise.