Rocket launch facility grounded by conservation body

A native vegetation ruling has grounded a South Australian rocket launch complex despite having state and federal government planning approval.

The Native Vegetation Council denied variations to the heritage agreement at Whalers Way, where Southern Launch hopes to build a space facility.

The state government did not clarify whether the minister will challenge the decision.

The future of a rocket launch facility is in doubt after its proposal, which would entail the clearing of vegetation, was rejected.

The proposed Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex is located 30 kilometres from Port Lincoln on land it leases privately.

Southern Launch had sought to have the heritage agreement officially amended so it could build a complex that would offer space mission services.

However, because the proposed site is a recognised conservation area for native vegetation and fauna, the Native Vegetation Council rejected the motion.

Rebecca Boulton from Birdlife Australia welcomed the upholding of the heritage agreement in place at the site since 1987, a habitat she said was home to two endangered bird species.

"A couple of species down there at Whalers Way are part of our recovery team, so the mallee whipbird is one of the species that we work with, and the Eyre Peninsula is the stronghold for that species," she said.

"We also work on another emu wren species, not your Eyre Peninsula species, but it's also a very important site for those two species."

Southern Launch's bid to create the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex has been met with ongoing opposition from conservation groups, including the local Eyre Peninsula Environmental Protection Alliance.

The company began rocket test launching at Whalers Way in 2021, which saw one of these attempts fail after the rocket caught fire .

Since then, Southern Launch has continued operations at its other facility at Koonibba Test Centre, further up the west coast of Eyre Peninsula.

The most recent successful rocket launch occurred at Koonibba in August this year, in partnership with the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation.