'Sitting ducks' fear plant explosion

Yesterday’s fertiliser plant explosion in Texas has captured headlines around the world, but the question remains, could it happen here in Australia?

Developers, residents and business owners in Port Adelaide think it could – and are asking the South Australian Government to move the local fertiliser plant before a disaster strikes.

An explosion at the Port Adelaide fertiliser plant would wipe out all of West Lakes and most of the Le Fevre Peninsula.

The shock waves would be felt up to 40 kilometres away in Gawler and McLaren Vale.

People who live and work near the plant say they are living in fear.

Ralph Tonkin's storage facility is straight across the road from the fertiliser plant and says he can barely sleep after seeing the video from the Texan blast.

“That was taken a kilometre away, and here we are 100 metres away, we’re sitting ducks,” Mr Tonkin told 7News.

Residents across the Port River fear the worst, believing they are right in the blast zone.

“There’s a primary school, a kindergarten, there’s an old age home, exactly like that town in West,” one woman said.

SafeworkSA admits it could happen.

“The likelihood of an explosive event is very, very low, but the consequence, obviously, could be quite significant,” SafeWorkSA executive director Bryan Russell said.

The problem is that no one wants to pay for the plant’s relocation.

The company that owns the plant, Incitec Pivot released a statement saying: “We are in ongoing discussions with the South Australian State Government regarding the best location for our distribution facility that suits all parties.”