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The South Australian government has approved a plan to build a $330-million desalination plant on the Eyre Peninsula.
The Billy Lights Point location near Port Lincoln has been a sticking point for some time and fishers are especially concerned about the impact it will have on their industry.
Billy Lights Point was one of four sites mooted for the plant and the community and the Barngarla people, the traditional owners, voiced their opposition.
Nick Champion says a secure water supply is crucial. (ABC News: Justin Hewitson)
But Housing and Urban Development Minister Nick Champion said that the plant needed to go ahead.
"We are very, very finely placed and running out of water would be a catastrophe for farmers, for the fishing industry and for citizens," he said.
"That's why we're through the planning process now and we're going to get on with construction of the plant in quarter one next year.
"We don't want to be playing chicken with Mother Nature."
Billy Lights Point is south of Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula. (ABC Eyre Peninsula: Bernadette Clarke)
'Showing a disregard'
The desalination plant is required to address low levels of underground water in the region, where almost 28,000 water users face a supply risk.
The approval has been made ahead of the publishing of findings from a select committee chaired by Nicola Centofanti MLC, which was designated to look into water security on the Eyre Peninsula.
Yumbah Aquaculture chief executive Mark Andrews was disappointed the decision was made before the findings were announced.
"Our fight against a desalination plant at Billy Lights Point is based on the scientific evidence that we have produced that shows there is a risk to the mussel industry in Port Lincoln," he said.
"SAWater has not satisfied the local community that the desalination plant won't damage our livelihoods.
"We are expecting the select committee report findings any day — it is premature of the minister to make this determination ahead of the select committee.
"He is showing a disregard for the parliament and the people of Port Lincoln."
Glen Ingham says discharge from the plant will damage the environment and the fishing industry. (ABC Eyre Peninsula: Jodie Hamilton)
'Straight into the bay'
Glen Ingham is the spokesperson for Hands off Boston Bay, a group opposed to the plant's location at Billy Lights Point.
He agreed that the decision should have been made after the committee's findings were handed down.
"It's [premature] for the minister to make a determination ahead of those findings," Mr Ingham said.
He said he held fears for "the aquaculture industry, the recreational fishery and the environment at large".
"The site is a very shallow bay with poor water movement," Mr Ingham said.
"The discharge of millions of litres of hyper-saline water, plus the chemicals used to clean the desalination plant, will just be thrown straight into that bay.
"There's a risk to the community, to the mussel industry and the aquaculture industry."
The committee's findings are expected tomorrow.