Hurry Save The Murray!

An anticipatory Media Release of the River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc had a number of people wondering when the decision re the weir would be announced. Here is the Media Release.

No weir at Wellington! It’s almost official. Someone just needs to own the decision and put out a Media Release! So here goes.

The River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc announces, “There will be no weir built at Pomanda Island across the River Murray below Wellington.”

Why? It is no longer necessary.

There is water for Lake Alexandrina.

The South Australian Government has 50 GL in storage for the Lakes to offset the water pumped from Lake Alexandrina into the Goolwa Lake.

The South Australian Government has promised to secure 120-170 GL over the next 5 months for the Lakes.

Government monitoring show Lake Alexandrina is alkaline (see EPA and DWLBC data). The recent rains have diluted rather than mobilising the acids in the tributaries.

With help from the Federal Government, SA is at last investing in stormwater harvesting for Adelaide.

The reasons for a weir are evaporating fast.

On November 2, 2009, the Minister for the Environment, Jay Weatherill, said on the ABC that the decision to build the weir was deferred till 2011. On the same day Premier Mike Rann announced the recent rains “have bolstered the State’s ability to reserve more water for the environment”.

Minister for the Murray, Karlene Maywald is waiting for the modelling to be complete but notes a substantially wetter upper catchment is producing reasonable inflows for first time in 3 years.

And just think of the advantages of announcing NO WEIR at WELLINGTON this week. It would be a fitting finale for the “Good News Water Weeks” we’ve been enjoying.

Just think of the added benefits that will flow to the environment on not having a weir.

· No risk of a stagnant pool between Wellington and Lock 1.

· Connectivity with Lake Alexandrina will ensure flushing of river salts and nutrients.

· Fish will not be trapped either side of the weir wall.

· The water-ways will remain navigable.

So Premier Rann, Ministers Weatherill and Maywald, take a stand. Make it official. End the speculation. Speak with one voice for the Environment. Issue a joint News Release. “The Wellington Weir will not be built.”

Having got that one from your plate, let’s now find fresh water for Lake Albert and the Coorong.