Hurry Save The Murray!

On ABC 891 today it was a chorus for the River Murray and environmental flows for Lakes Alexandrina and Albert: Environment Minister Jay Weatherill, Alexandrina Mayor Kim McHugh, John Caldecott (WAC), Mitch Williams, Opposition Spokesperson on the River Murray, MLC David Winderlich (Independent) and Professor Diane Bell, River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc (RLCAG).

Over the past two days there has been a remarkable shift in language. Major stakeholders are now in agreement that the floodwaters offer a unique opportunity to work for a healthy river.

Yesterday the SA and NSW Premiers reached an “in principle agreement” that addressed “reasonable environmental flows”. Diane Bell argued that for those flows to be reasonable for the environment, the flow must be sufficient to flush the accumulated salts and nutrients out to sea. The RLCAG Media Release expressed concerned that we move beyond a mere rhetorical commitment to a healthy River and match our words with actions and outcomes for the River.

The RLCAG asked: Who determines what is reasonable? By what criteria? They sought a firm answer that reflects the interests of the health of the River from the Basin Officials Committee meeting with Julia Gillard in Canberra today.

Here are some guidelines:
1. Rivers die from the bottom up. The accumulated salts and nutrients in the lower Murray, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert must be flushed out to sea.
Q. Can the basin states and federal governments work together to ensure that the flows will do the work that living rivers need? Will the floods reach the sea?

2. Australia is a land of droughts and flooding rains. Whatever we do in terms of management of the system must begin with that fact.

Q. Does the current Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) allow for that or has it been found wanting? Will the MDBA Plan being developed accommodate future floods?

3. Rivers are living systems and rely on connectivity for their vitality and survival.
Q. Why rely on 19th century technology of dams to manage the system by disconnection?

Diane Bell and Bob Honor discussed these question at Milang and appeared on the Channel 10 News.