What is an ‘eco-regenerative tourist development’?

*NB IMPORTANT UPDATE - SOME GOOD NEWS!*

Whatever that actually means, it’s HUGE. An 86-dwelling facility (more dwellings than Parndana based on the 2021 ABS Census) is proposed by Melbourne-based Junctions 90 Pty Ltd.

The proponent’s Plan SA public notification documents indicate at full operation it will house 132 guests, not including staff, and with public also accessing the site they anticipated 300 people will use the Hot Springs facility per day. This makes it one of the biggest tourist development proposals on KI in our memories, with a significant impact on the local community and infrastructure.

Application ID 25024492 on the Plan SA Register describes it as:

‘Tourist accommodation and wellness complex comprising 60 accommodation modules, a restaurant, day spa and reception building, services outbuildings, ancillary tourism experience structures, footpaths and decking, 33 geothermal bathing pools, 26 staff accommodation units, landscaping, carpark, new internal roads and access, and on-site infrastructure including solar PV, water storage dams and waste treatment facilities’.

Neighbouring landowners are concerned that widening of access tracks on extremely steep land to allow for guest, worker, delivery and CFS access may require significant excavation, fill and retaining work, and additional clearing to that which has been set out in the proponent’s application. The proponent’s native vegetation clearance data report also forecasts additional, unquantified vegetation clearance once the facility is built.

Aside from clearing, excavation, waste management and its own solar farm, the development will require significant quantities of water, as well as waste-water treatment, potentially disrupting natural water flows, hydrology and the water table, through the damming of two creeks, one spring-fed, and installation of a weir, not to mention a geothermal bore to feed 86 dwellings and 33 geothermal pools.

There are concerns that this will disrupt farming on neighbouring land, as well as threatening the viability of habitat and endangered species.

Yet the proponent’s report states that the development will ‘sit lightly upon the land’!

Why is it a problem?

Most people support sensible development that is for the good of the community, that is the subject of respectful consultation with the community, and that is sensitive to farming and environmental priorities.

However, in this instance, neighbouring farmers, landholders and environmentalists are united in their concerns regarding the potential impact on agricultural land, hydrology, water flows and the water table, and state significant native vegetation, including threatened species habitat which survived recent fires thanks to local landholders’ efforts.

They also know of little consultation with the KI community by the would-be interstate developer regarding what appears to be a fifth major (tourist) town proposed for KI - just an application for planning approval that is going to the State Commission Assessment Panel under the performance assessed pathway, omitting the need for an environmental impact assessment under the impact assessed pathway despite proposing to drill up to a kilometre into the earth for geothermal access. A public meeting planned with KI Council in January, that may have answered some of the questions and concerns of the community, was cancelled on the day by the proponent.

The developer’s native vegetation clearance report acknowledged that vegetation the proponent is seeking permission to clear houses nationally-listed threatened species including the endangered KI Glossy-Black Cockatoo and endangered KI Echidna. Yet the report declined to have an independent fauna assessment undertaken, that should in our view be required.

Neighbours estimate remnant vegetation on and adjacent the site provides nesting and feeding habitat for 40 birds - or a little under 10% of the estimated 446 glossy-black cockatoos in existence. The draft September 2025 count of these iconic birds indicates their North Coast population has already dwindled by close to 10% over recent years due to loss of habitat following the bushfires.

Neighbours also report regular sightings of White-Bellied Sea Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and Heath Goannas. Further, a search of the national register shows multiple other threatened species in the immediate vicinity of the site, including the following KI subspecies, listed as threatened since the Black Summer bushfires: the KI Brown-headed Honeyeater, KI White-eared Honeyeater, KI Western Whipbird (all endangered), the KI Little Wattlebird, KI Crimson Rosella, KI Striated Thornbill, KI Shy Heathwren (all vulnerable), the Western Bassian Thrush and the Western Beautiful Firetail (SA subspecies both endangered).

What are some of the broader impacts?

It is already a challenge for Kangaroo Island Council to maintain the island’s road, beach and other infrastructure, given the Island’s small ratepayer base.

KI Council’s considered comments on the proposal dated 16 November 2025 can be viewed  here. Council puts the entirely reasonable view that its ratepayers should not be asked to foot the bill for ‘road upgrades, stormwater works, water supply infrastructure or other servicing requirements’ associated with the proposed development, for an interstate developer to reap the profits.

Council’s comments highlight concerns associated with the development proposal, in summary:

  • a lack of an effective traffic management plan for the significant additional traffic that would as a result of the development significantly increase the use of Council’s unsealed road network in and around Middle River (already under pressure) - stating that ‘additional traffic volumes are likely to create a dangerous road environment’ which ‘needs to be addressed by the applicant’;

  • a lack of sufficient detail regarding access to the site and the internal driveway network, such that appropriate determinations may be made as to ‘safe and convenient access, erosion control and stormwater management’;

  • the lack of a waste management plan for a development of this size and intensity, in an environmentally sensitive area;

  • the lack of a Safewater drinking management plan detailing potential drinking water hazards and risks and how these will be managed; and

  • the lack of detail of the proposed ‘weir dam’ to capture water supply for the development, likely to be significant given the number of pools and accommodation modules intended to be built.

The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) has previously approved ‘7 star’ luxury tourist accommodation on the North Coast, also targeting high-end international visitors. Built atop Snelling Beach amid claims from planners that it would ‘unlock opportunities for KI’s future’, it is not clear whether it has in fact delivered promised jobs and tourist dollars.

What can you do?

Get informed, get involved!

If we don’t raise our concerns, silence may be regarded as consent. The proposal has been referred to KI Council (see Council’s considered comments pointing out some of the issues with the proposal to SPC here) and SA agencies including the Coast Protection Board, SA Country Fire Service, and Native Vegetation Council, not all of which have responded/published responses to date.

Despite the lack of published response by those other agencies, the proponent commenced public notification on 2 January on Plan SA, closing on 22 January 2026.

Anyone concerned that any breach of the EPBC Act may occur as a result of the proposal may also report their concerns to the Commonwealth Referral Team for the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

As permissions will primarily be a decision for the State government, you can ask your State MP, relevant State Ministers and Shadow Ministers - and, in the lead-up to the March election, your local candidates - to ask them to stand up for island residents, farmers, visitors, habitat and threatened species including our endangered Glossy-Black Cockatoos, and save KI for sustainable development by emailing:

Please visit our Resources page for supporting materials

If you need more information please contact us per below (please allow 24 hours for a response).

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We can’t wait to hear from you!

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