Lucky Bay, South Australia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lucky BaySouth Australia |
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Lucky Bay Ferry Terminal
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 Lucky Bay
Location in South Australia
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| Established | 1998 | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 5602 | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | ACST (UTC+9:30) | ||||||||||||||
| • Summer (DST) | ACST (UTC+10:30) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 198 km (123 mi) NW of Adelaide | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | District Council of Franklin Harbour | ||||||||||||||
| Region | Eyre Western | ||||||||||||||
| County | Jervois | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Flinders | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Grey | ||||||||||||||
| Website | Lucky Bay | ||||||||||||||
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Lucky Bay is a small town located in South Australia. It sits on the coast of the Eyre Peninsula, right next to the Spencer Gulf. This area is part of the District Council of Franklin Harbour.
Lucky Bay is an important place for travel and trade. It's where a special ferry crosses the Spencer Gulf. It's also a port where grain is loaded onto ships to be sent to other places. The town is very close to the Franklin Harbour wetlands, which are important natural areas. The waters nearby are also part of the Franklin Harbor Marine Park.
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Living and Playing in Lucky Bay
A line of coastal homes, sometimes called 'shacks', stretches along the shore north-east of the ferry terminal. Some of these homes are available for people to rent for holidays.
People who live or visit here can launch their boats from the beach. The waters nearby are very popular for fishing. One of the most exciting fish to catch in this area is the snapper.
The Spencer Gulf Ferry
A ferry service began operating from Lucky Bay in December 2006. This ferry helps people and vehicles cross the Spencer Gulf between Lucky Bay and Wallaroo. It has been very good for the nearby town of Cowell, helping its economy.
The ferry service is run by Spencer Gulf Searoad. It even won an award in 2006 for helping the environment. The ferry helps reduce pollution by offering a shorter trip across the gulf. This means fewer cars have to drive all the way around, saving a lot of carbon emissions.
Ferry Service History
Over the years, different ships have been used for the ferry service. These include the MV Seaway, Sea Scape, and Sea Spirit. In 2009, the service stopped for a while.
From 2012 to 2014, a special ship called the Aurora V was used. Then, the service stopped again so that the harbour could be made bigger. The ferry service started up again in October 2016 with a ship called Sea Star.
In August 2017, the ferry service paused again for more building work at Lucky Bay harbour. In 2019, the Aurora V had some problems and was stuck in Venezuela due to political issues there.
The ferry service finally started again in November 2020, using the Aurora V once more. It sails under the Spencer Gulf Searoad name. The ferry service was recently paused in late June for maintenance work. It is expected to start again in late July.
Making the Harbour Bigger
Between 2011 and 2018, there were many plans to make the Lucky Bay ferry terminal larger. The goal was to create new facilities for loading goods onto ships. First, there was a plan to export iron ore. Later, in 2016, a plan to export wheat was approved. The Australian Government helped with money for this project.
By October 2016, about $20 million had been spent on making the harbour bigger. The water in the basin was made deeper to allow larger ships.
Wheat Export Plan
The project changed focus, and a company called Free Eyre Ltd became interested in exporting grain from Lucky Bay. They hoped to start shipping grain by 2015, but it took longer.
In early 2016, a formal plan to build facilities for shipping wheat was approved. In July 2016, the port's owners said they expected the new facilities to be ready for the 2017 harvest.
By March 2018, work to deepen the outer channel was approved. The harbour was expected to be ready to export grain after the 2018 harvest. The plan included large storage areas at Lucky Bay for grain. The grain would then be moved to a special transfer ship. This ship would carry the grain out to much larger ships anchored further offshore in deeper water.
The new system is designed to load a large Panamax ship in just three days. A special ship called the MV Lucky Eyre arrived in March 2020. It is used to transfer the grain. Its owners say it's a "world first" because it can move itself and unload the grain on its own. The larger ships will anchor about 5 nautical miles (about 9.2 kilometers) offshore. The transfer ship is 87 meters long and can move up to 13,800 tonnes of grain each day.
Starting Operations (2019-2020)
The first load of wheat arrived at the storage facility in Lucky Bay in October 2019. The MV Lucky Eyre arrived from China in March 2020 to be tested. This ship can carry 3,300 tonnes of grain. It can load between 10,800 and 13,250 tonnes of grain per day in good weather.
On March 31, a large ship called the Wave Friend was being loaded with grain south of Lucky Bay. This area is within the Franklin Harbor Marine Park.
The port was officially opened in April 2020. It was expected to start exporting grain in the summer of 2020–21. The company running the project, T-Ports Pty Ltd, works with a lobbyist to talk to the South Australian parliament. The large silos that store the grain were made in South Australia.
In December 2021, the project's owner announced it would receive $40 million in a new funding deal.
Environment and Wildlife
Lucky Bay is next to the Franklin Harbour wetlands. Two tidal creeks are located near the homes and the new grain-loading facilities. The sandy areas, dunes, and beaches are home to many important animals. These include various birds that migrate, the banded stilt, the hooded plover, and the white-bellied sea eagle.
The white-bellied sea eagle is considered endangered in South Australia. Both the banded stilt and hooded plover are listed as vulnerable. This means they need protection.
In 2011, a plan for the Eyre Peninsula coast suggested that surveys of plants and animals should be done in this area. This would help guide how the area is managed in the future.
Franklin Harbor Marine Park
Lucky Bay is located inside the Franklin Harbor Marine Park, which is managed by the State. This park was created in 2009 to protect the home of the weedy seadragon. This creature is fully protected by law.
The park is also home to blue swimmer crabs, prawns, King George whiting, and other important fish species. Fishing is allowed in most of the park. However, it is not allowed in special "Sanctuary Zones" to protect wildlife. There are also "Special Purpose Areas" in the park that allow for the loading of goods between ships.
Environmental Concerns
New developments are one of the things that could threaten this area. In 2011, there were concerns about a large proposed development. People worried it might affect the coast, animal homes, and plants. Environmentalists were also concerned that noise and dust from exporting iron ore could disturb birds. This could change their feeding habits and where they rest. People involved with the development have talked about plans to reduce these problems. They also said they need to work with groups that protect bird habitats.
