Hurry Save The Murray!

On Friday 17 July, the staff of the Fresh Water Embassy were very disappointed, when, after waiting three hours for Minister Weatherill, the meeting was cancelled. They proceeded nonetheless. Read about the meeting with the man who wasn’t there. Watch Virtual Jay on YouTube.

Not to be deterred, Embassy staff decided if the Minister would not come to the Embassy, they would take the Embassy to him.  The SA Government Community Cabinet was meeting in Port Augusta July 21-2, so the Ambassador, banner and several fresh water species corflutes set off with two staff members to make the long drive to Port Augusta.

Their forensic skills were tested as they tried to determine where the Community Council was meeting and when. Council Chambers? Sports Centre? Tafe College? The campus seemed like a good place to set up the Embassy. Channel 7, the ABC and local media soon gathered around to hear of the trek of the determined Embassy staff.

After numerous phone calls, Minister Weatherill’s Office found a time to meet: 4.30pm at the Railway Station Building. The exchange was robust. The Minister saw a series of photographs that document the construction of the Clayton Bay weir, the damage that it is causing and the impact of the recent rains. He was presented with a letter asking that construction stop immediately.  jw-letter-rlcag-port-augusta-200709-copy

He will get back to the Embassy with the scientific data that supports the continued construction of the weir.

Meanwhile, nature was taking her revenge. There were two significant slumps of the weir wall. The mud continues to flow through to Lake Alexandrina. The retaining floating barrier has not been reinstated.