Hurry Save The Murray!

The Water Election Team - WET spent the weekend preparing for the launch of their campaign.

In the run up to the March 20th state election, WET will be asking all candidates to fill in a questionnaire concerning water issues.

Visit the WET page to learn more.

Dear Peter Smith,
As your Open Letter to the Premier (February 2010) illustrates, we are at critical moment in our nation’s history. The Murray-Darling River system is at Code Catastrophic. We can choose to continue with failed policies, tinker around the edges, or initiate a bold new plan that ensures a healthy river for future generations.

While we do take issue with your ideas, there is much common ground between us.
* We are committed to a fresh water solution and a healthy river.
* We live in the driest state in the driest continent at the “bottom” of the river.
* The river is over-allocated.
* The rainfall across the Murray-Darling Basin is highly variable.
* Under current climate change scenarios rainfall across the southern Basin will diminish.

Your plan calls for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a weir across the River Murray near Tailem Bend. An EIS for a “temporary” weir across the River Murray at Pomanda Island (below Wellington) has already been prepared. This has entailed some three years of work, addressing the requirements of Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC), and has produced a substantial body of materials.

Your argument for a weir addresses the specific needs of commercial users of the river but the gains would be short-lived.

A weir near Tailem Bend, like one at Pomanda Island, would create a pool of still water that would be prone to algal blooms and favour carp above native fish species. It will not secure Adelaide’s water supply. Salinity levels will increase. Silt will build up behind the weir.

While we agree the needs of river users should be taken into account in future plans for management of the river, a weir would be a short-term fix that undermines a long-term recovery. Further, your plan ignores the long-term impacts of weirs. As ecologist Keith Walker pointed out in his letter (8/2/2010), another weir would compound the effects of the diversions, weirs, barrages, levees and other flow regulators that have fragmented an ecosystem that relies on connectivity. It is folly to add to that legacy in the name of resolving the situation.

Whatever we do must be driven by best practices, draw on local knowledge and be underwritten by the research of independent scientists. We believe we already have that body of good sense, knowledge and practice. It tells us that when the salt and nutrients carried by the river are being flushed out to sea through the Murray Mouth, we will have a healthy, sustainable river.

We, the undersigned, are committed to “a fresh water solution”. The recent rains and floods are an opportunity to reset the system; to begin to undo the damage of past mismanagement; to care for our internationally recognised wetlands (Ramsar sites); to take bold and decisive action and not wait for the expiration of state water management plans in 2014 and 2019.

What is needed is the political resolve to act now in the interests of the river, and ultimately, in the interests of all.

We are concerned by the apparent endorsement of your letter by the Lower River Murray Drought Reference Group and the Murray Darling Association, when we understand that neither group has endorsed your position.

Can we set aside divisive politics and work towards a healthy river?

Endorsed by the River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc and the Finniss Catchment Group Inc

Today was the funeral for Val Powers, a Yarladi elder and a member of the Karpeny family. She was laid to rest on the hill at Murrangungk overlooking the River Murray  on the traditional lands of her family.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority Community Committee (MDBACC) spent February 2 and 3 visiting Lake Alexandrina, the Coorong and Murray Mouth. They held a public meeting at Goolwa and took a field trip that included Hindmarsh Island, Raukkan, and Pelican Point.

The functions of the Committee include providing advice to the MDBA on engaging the community in the preparation of each draft Basin Plan, and community matters relating to the Basin water resources.

Drs Keith Walker and Mike Geddes made presentations to the Committee. Keith spoke about the state of the world’s big rivers, and the Murray in particular. He explained what flow regulation had done to the Lower Murray, and argued that the environmental problems we face really have a very simple solution.

Mike explained the importance of end of system flows in the River and the crisis in the Murray Mouth and Coorong. He argued that reinstatement of end of system flows is essential for the Murray Mouth and Coorong.

Diane Bell presented a “Report from the Field” on what she called “her most recent work conducted over the last four years in and around the River Murray, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert and Coorong with the River/Water tribe”.