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Legislative
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| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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Legislative
Council |
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| Mike Elliott Leader Australian Democrats Member of the Legislative Council |
Parliament Index |
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MURRAY, MARNE and NORTH PARA RIVERS
The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Treasurer, representing the Minister for Water Resources, a question in relation to river health.
Leave granted.
The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: Recently the government has been making a bit of running in terms of the state of the Murray River, which is something that I think has the support of all members in this place. At the same time, it appears to have been opposed to environmental flows in the Snowy River system. Some people have sought to highlight what was seen as the hypocrisy of the government in terms of whether or not we are doing enough for the Murray River itself here in South Australia, but that is not the concern I am raising today.
I bring to the minister's attention, if he is not already aware, a front page article in the Barossa and Light Herald of 22 March entitled `Why is our river running black?'. The article states:
Fish and other wildlife have been found dead in the North Para river which is running as a putrid smelling, black stream.
The lead sentence of the article states:
The beautiful Barossa Valley has been given a black mark by the Environmental Protection Authority over the state of the North Para river.
It has been brought to my attention that the Marne River, the only stream that makes any real contribution to the Murray River in South Australia, has stopped flowing because of the number of dams that have been placed upon it. In fact, as I understand it, quite a few of our ephemeral streams have large quantities of water drawn from them and they are under some significant pressure. I ask the Treasurer whether he could advise the Council what sort of recovery schemes the government has in mind in terms of the Marne River, the North Para river and other streams that are being put under increasing pressure here in South Australia.
The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I will refer the honourable member's question to the minister and bring back a reply.
See the government response: 25 May 2000
