Hurry Save The Murray!

Saving our Rivers and Gulfs: Water Actions

Meeting with the Minister for the Environment and Conservation, Minister for the River Murray and Minister for Water, July 28, 2010

Storm water, desalination plants, Environmental Impact Statements, privatisation and community engagement with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan were all on the agenda at the July 28 meeting of local environmental groups with Minister Paul Caica in Adelaide.

‘We were delighted when the Minister visited the Fresh Water Embassy at Clayton Bay on June 17,’ said Professor Diane Bell. ‘We hoped then that we were entering a new phase in bringing our concerns to government and we are further encouraged by this meeting.’

Corrie Vanderhoek of the Save our Gulf Coalition, John Caldecott of the Water Action Coalition and Diane Bell from the Fresh Water Embassy spent an hour in dialogue with the Minister and three of his advisors.

‘The biodiversity of the Gulfs of St Vincent and Spencer Gulf is not widely known, said Corrie Vanderhoek. ‘We were able to present the Minister with briefing documents regarding environmental threats posed by the desalination plant at Port Stanvac.’ For more on the Save our Gulfs campaigns go to portwalkabout.com

“When will South Australia’s minimum entitlement of 1850 Gl be established?” asked John Caldecott who presented a critique of the problems raised by privatisation of water. For more on the work of the Water Action Coalition (WAC) go to http://civictrust.net.au/page19.htm

‘The Minister is setting a cracking pace in advocating for the special needs of South Australians with reference to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan; saving the threatened congolli; planning how his new supra-Department of Environment and Natural Resources will manage its duties and addressing the issues we are raising,’ said Bell.

‘Our concerns were wide ranging, the discussion intense and robust. There are matters on which we agree to disagree,’ said Bell. ‘We are seeking access to reports and we are seeking answers to a number of complex questions. We expect to have an indication within 1-2 weeks of which matters can be addressed quickly and a schedule for dealing with the others.’