Ms Breuer still held concerns over the environmental effects the plant could have on that area of the Spencer Gulf,

“I’m not opposed to desalination, I just think more testing needs to be done.”

She said the desalination plant should be located about 100km south of Point Lowly.

The call followed the opening of the Prominent Hill mine site, 140km south of Cooper Pedy.

"This is further proof to me that the facility proposed at Pt Lowly will not be adequate to expand for the potential mining industry and other options should be considered," she said.

Ms Breuer said the newly opened mine offered confidence in the future for the region, according to Ms Breuer.

"This will have great benefits for all of our part of the state,” she said.

“It's an exciting time as new mines come on board, and we will benefit in many ways.

“We can be very confident about our future, and we should make the best of every opportunity it offers."

she said the mine was a further sign the massive investment in minerals exploration in South Australia is being translated into local jobs.

Already more 1200 jobs have been created during the construction and mining phases at the Prominent Hill, 140km south of Coober Pedy.

With an open pit nearly half a kilometre deep, the copper and gold mine is expected to produce eight million tonnes of ore per year for the first decade of operation.