Ailing Murray-Darling river system ‘now critical’
Christian Kerr & Stuart Rintoul; 11/7/08
The Murray-Darling crisis has worsened, 18 months after John Howard promised $10 billion for the struggling river system and despite two COAG meetings under Kevin Rudd at which the ailing state of the river was debated at length. As scientists launched a renewed attack on the lack of action on addressing the crisis, the Murray-Darling Commission yesterday released figures indicating that June inflows had been the lowest on record, with just 95gigalitres flowing into the river system. That was 11 gigalitres down on the previous low of 106 gigalitres in June 2006 and a fraction of the long-term average June inflow of 680 gigalitres. Wendy Craik, chief executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, said that if the Murray was a patient, its condition would be “critical”.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24001990-5013404,00.html
Buyback water won’t rescue lower regions; Greg Roberts; 11/7/08; http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24001905-5013404,00.html
Dire outlook for sick Murray as inflows drop; Chris Hammer; 11/7/08; See: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/dire-outlook-for-sick-murray-as-inflows-drop-20080710-3d6x.html
Tags: Australia, Environment, Murray-Darling Basin