At last a deal to rescue the Murray
Phillip Coorey; 4/7/08
The Rudd Government has finally clinched agreement with the states to hand control of the Murray-Darling Basin to a single independent body, but has argued that without rain authorities are powerless to save the stricken river system. The landmark deal for a federal takeover of the basin was reached at a meeting between the Prime Minister and the premiers aimed at bulldozing state barriers to business and environmental activity. The meeting made progress in a range of areas. The leaders responded to recent child neglect and abuse cases by setting up a system to share information on families at risk. Trade rules and regulations will be harmonised to allow plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople to shift between states.
Floodwater harvest halted
Daniel Lewis; 4/7/08
A new policy on floodwater harvesting amounts to the retrospective legalisation of Murray-Darling Basin environmental theft, critics say. No new structures that allow farmers to harvest flood flows will be approved, as the State Government promises to crack down on water theft in the Murray-Darling Basin. Farmers diverting flood water and storing it is a widespread but largely unregulated practice. Under the new policy, a cap will be set on the amount of floodwater that can be taken and those already taking it can seek approval for the floodwater harvesting infrastructure they have. They will also have to get a licence for the amount of floodwater they store.
See: http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/floodwater-harvest-halted/2008/07/03/1214950951545.html
COAG river plan a failure - scientists
Karlis Salna; 3/7/08
Scientists have described a plan to rescue the Murray-Darling Basin as a failure, saying the nation’s leaders have missed an opportunity to do something about the ailing river system. The federal and state governments signed off on a deal aimed at saving the Murray-Darling Basin at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Sydney today. Included in the deal was an agreement to establish a single management plan for the Murray-Darling Basin, as well as the creation of a new body to take charge of the parched river system. Also announced was funding of $3.7 billion to be spent on water efficiency projects across the basin, with a focus on South Australia’s lower lakes.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23964343-26103,00.html
Lack of resolution sells environment down the river
Jamie Walker & Greg Roberts; 4/7/08
A raindrop falls from the lowering Queensland sky. It drips through the heavy canopy of forest on Chesterton Range, 700km northwest of Brisbane, intoa spring that has murmured into life. There are never enough raindrops to feed the spring that will become a creek and then a river branching into the mighty waterways of the Murray-Darling system. After the blistering Australian sun takes its measure in evaporation, the irrigators extract theirs and the ever-growing needs of thirsty towns and cities are met, too little water remains to preserve the river itself. “We have to face the reality: the river is screaming,” says Mike Young, a professor of water economics and member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. “It is collapsing and screaming for help … in agony.”
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23966402-5013404,00.html
Tags: Australia, Environment, Murray-Darling Basin