News Release
		2002 News Releases index
Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council		Environment News Water Resources News

The amount of water flowing down the Murray River into and through South Australia must be increased by 20 per cent over the next 10 years to ensure the river’s long term survival, say the Australian Democrats.

In launching their Sustainable Rivers platform today, Democrats’ Leader Mike Elliott says water flows into South Australia must be boosted by an extra two Sydney Harbours’ worth of water, or 1000 gigalitres by 2012.

The State Government’s hypocrisy on the River Murray must cease.

While efficient systems have been put into SA to save water the government has increased water use leaving little gain for the river.

The fact that almost all of SA’s own rivers are near death underlines that hypocrisy.

"We must return the natural balance to the river and ensure South Australia’s long term economic, social and environmental sustainability," he said.

"Recognising the Murray is a managed river, we must increase environmental flows to mimic natural flows, to save our lifeline and its native species.

"Already half of the system’s 21 native fish are endangered. The Coorong is a wetland of international significance and is dying"

Mr Elliott says salinity is another major problem which will make Murray water undrinkable in two out of every five days by 2020. (or 4 months out of 12).

"We can combat this with a major focus on the Murray Mallee, promoting the planting of deep-rooted vegetation, including native species and commercial crops, over significant parts of the region," he says.

Other initiatives in the Australian Democrats’ water plan include:

• Murray-Darling system: We must establish a 20 per cent increase in environmental flows by 2012. We need salinity and water quality targets that meet environmental thresholds for fish breeding, river health and native vegetation. We must increase flows into the Murray to rehabilitate the internationally recognised wetlands at Chowilla and the Coorong through various clawback mechanisms. River banks and wetlands must be protected from overgrazing and clearing with native vegetation buffer strips.
• Regional waterways: The government must immediately address the problems of pollution seeping into the Murray and North Para Rivers. Most SA rivers are in crisis due to unsustainable water use and recovery schemes must be implemented.
• Salinity: We need a salinity management plan to survey, reduce, control and reverse salinity and soil degradation. In the Murray Mallee there must be a significant increase in the area covered by deep-rooted vegetation (including native species and sustainable commercial crops), to arrest the salt flow to the Murray. We also need incentives to promote the conservation and rehabilitation of existing native habitat on private land.
• Water conservation: We need aggressive urban and rural management plans to conserve water within the cap. The Democrats oppose any additional water allocations for the expansion of irrigated agricultural industries until they are proven to be sustainable.
• Cooper Creek system: We must work with upstream states to ensure the integrity of SA’s only natural river is not compromised by inappropriate development. No new water diversions must be allowed.
• Aquifers: We support work on the recharge of urban aquifers, water recovery and recycling.
• Resourcing: The government must increase the resources applied to protection of water resources applied through its own departments and through assistance to community groups.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Mike Elliott

[National] [Search] [MPs] [Party] [Parliament] [Election]
[News & Media] [Contact Us] [SA Page]

As of 1/1/2001 this site is a Disability Access Approved Site