It has just come to light that a scientific report presented to the Murray-Darling Basin ministerial council on the health of the Coorong and Lower Lakes in May gave a deadline of October for action. Instead of setting in place an immediate response, the ministers put the issue on the back burner until they meet in November.
Scientists have given the Commonwealth and Murray Darling Basin Governments six months to save the Coorong, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert. We need to move quickly on an emergency rescue package, before this Ramsar listed wetland site is lost forever.
As my colleague Senator Bob Brown has said:
Penny Wong and Peter Garrett owe an explanation to the Parliament today as to how they have put this report on the shelf when the scientists are saying there was urgent action required and if you wait that long, it’ll be too late.
Unless 450GL of water can be delivered to the Coorong and lower lakes through winter and spring these ecosystems will hit a crucial tipping point beyond which acidity problems will be out of control and the runaway collapse of these ecosystems is almost certain.
Even though we have had an extended period of drought there is still more than enough water in storage to fix this problem – what is lacking is the political will.
The Federal Government needs to secure the release of water stored in the Menindee lakes and purchase some of the water in major storages in northern NSW. Irrigators should also be encouraged to loan water for the rescue package and could be rewarded for their efforts with extra water in future.
Most health indicators of the ecosystem are now in the red – the water-birds, fish, frogs, turtles and native plants that make up and rely upon this ecosystem are now all on the line. It is entirely possible that Lake Albert may never be freshwater again.
The ecological values of the Coorong and lower lakes Ramsar wetland site have deteriorated alarmingly since it was listed in 1985, as a result of over-regulation and over-extraction of water in the Murray resulting in diminishing freshwater flows. The management plan for these systems laid out in the Living Murray Initiative called for the restoration of a more variable flow regime, but nothing has been done to restore flows and the barrages remain in place.
Research into riverbed soil profiles show that water is now half a metre below sea level for the first time since these systems formed 7500 years ago. As strongly expressed by the Australian Conservation Foundation, this is a warning that cannot be ignored.
What is urgently needed is a major rescue operation, but unless we act now to secure this water and biologically remediate the exposed acid sulfate lake bed by spring these precious and internationally renowned ecosystems will probably be gone forever.
To stop high levels of acidity and toxic heavy metals being produced by these exposed acid sulphate soils it is crucial that exposed lake beds are mulched and revegetated with native aquatic plants before they are refilled. The careful addition of lime to suitable sites will also help manage this problem.
This crisis has not happened overnight. Governments have had a series of more and more urgent warnings on the declining health of the Coorong and lower lakes over the last decade. The most crucial evidence yet is the ecological assessment undertaken last year by Phillips and Muller on the Ecological Character of the Coorong, Lakes Alexandrina and Albert wetland of international importance and the release today of the April report by the Southern Australian Murray Darling Basin Natural Resource Management Board.
Commonwealth Ministers Penny Wong and Peter Garrett need to act now to put pressure on the NSW Government to secure the release of water from Menindee and northern NSW storages and to put in place remediation measures for the Lakes. They then need to be either calling an urgent meeting of the MDB Ministerial Council or taking this issue to COAG when they meet in early July to get sign on to an emergency rescue package for the Coorong and lower lakes.
These problems point clearly to the fact that the Water for the Future plan won’t deliver water fast enough to deal with the problems facing our river system. It is very clear that we need a much more responsive approach to this crisis, and that we need an approach to basin management that allows us to be more responsive to future crises in the Murray and Darling rivers. We cannot afford to wait until 2019 to have in place a whole-of-basin cap and plan.
We need to fix the system once and for all in a way that ensures the same old problems are not locked into place, and that the other critical issues of river health that we are already aware of are dealt with in a timely fashion to stop these issues getting to crisis point before governments can find the will to respond.
We need to act now to save the river, lakes and wetlands - not some time in the distant future.
The full and damning report is here http://www.abc.net.au/news/opinion/documents/files/20080618murray-darling.pdf
Thanks mcfarm - I just found that and was about to post it here. :)
Immediate ecological problems don’t have a memory as short as voters. In three years, the voters will have forgotten today’s headlines but the river systems will have collapsed. Kevin Rudd may be worried about presiding over a recession but how’s he going to feel when it becomes clear that he’s watching the collapse of Australia’s natural environment. The information’s already there, the alarm bells are ringing but Rudd and Co. are missing in action.
It is not cotton or rice that is taking most of our irrigation water from the Murray-Darling river, but the dairy industry! The amount of water needed for one litre of milk, from cow to supermarket, amounts to up to 600 litres of virtual water! We also export dairy products. It is estimated that the drought has reduced our supply of milk by up to 25%. The $2.5 billion dairy export market could decline by almost a third by 2050 An increased consumption of dairy products in many developing countries will send prices soaring, which will lead to higher prices for dairy products in Australia. (ABARE).
There are dairy replacements available, such as soy milk, rice and oat milk. We can also have non-dairy ice-cream, yogurt, tofu and cheeses. With greater production these should become cheaper, and provide tasty and much more sustainable products.
Better water management can reduce the increasing gap between water available and water required for agricultural and non-agricultural uses.
Our government needs to subsidise our agricultural industries to diversify and find aternatives that avoid the heavy water and natural resource consumption of livestock-based industries.
As a guest in the lands of the Ngarrindjeri and resident of Narrung between Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, I can say a heart-felt thanks to Rachel for this report. Once quiet, once fresh with clean air, Narrung now has 24/7 surround noise of continual pumping as well as the smell of diesel fume accumulation most mornings. At night the topography seems to act as an amplifyer and I’m told the irritating jerky sound of pumps can be heard kilometres away over the Narrung Peninsula. How is this acceptable in a Ramsar wetland area?
It took a over month to put sound buffers in place. A Govt official assures me that the three permanent pumps will be encased and sound proofed, but at present the only respite from the sound comes when the wind blows. Sleeplessness due to the noise has been extremely distressing, impacting on my health, and I wonder about the impact on the local Australian otters, turtles, ibis, herons, pelicans, swans, sandpipers, spoonbills, stilts, terns, fish species et al.
How must the Ngarrindjeri be feeling to see their lands and waters in such a degraded state? Over a decade ago Ngarrindjeri elders sent strong messages to Australian governments and went to the highest court in the land about protecting their sacred lands and waters. Their pleas were ignored and they were subjected to ridicule, disrespect and expedient political machinations. Now their warnings come to pass.
Far more ancient than Egyptian pyramid-tombs, this unique living cultural landscape acts like the lungs of the River Murray. What will happen to the river if it has collapsed? Where is the outrage and outcry at its imminent demise? Where is the will to keep this wetland heritage alive? I’ve been told that this disruptive emergency pumping into Lake Albert is only funded until the end of September. What happens after that? WHERE IS THE EMERGENCY RESCUE PLAN?
Why have I had no response to communications sent to ministers Penny Wong and Peter Garrett re urgent need for water flows into the lakes and Coorong?
You are welcome to take a look at what’s been happening here at Narrung between Lakes Alexandrina and Albert at http://narrung.blogspot.com
I agree with Sam here. We are really preaching to the converted within the Greens. Getting the Iemma government in Macquarie st to wake up and see whats happening when you have the likes of Michael Costa is a scary thought he wouldnt know the first thing about the Murray river and the ecological risks involved he just cares about culling public servants and privatisation. Rudd and the NSW government together is a very scary prospect indeed.
Lets hope the Greens can make some headway come July 1?
What can you say - Pathetic, irresponsible, unacceptable. But how can you win, the media will continue to detract attention from this issue with completely irrelevant headlines about who is Australia’s preferred prime minister or another celebrity has breast cancer, come election time all that we will hear about is the economy.
One would have expected better than this from Garrett. If he has any self respect left he should resign in protest at this appalling time wasting. I had the impression in the 80’s that he was setting himself as a politician and I feel that all of his environmental campaigning was more for the wallet than from the heart.
I live in hope that Australians will wake up and realise that both Labor and Liberals only serve the dual masters of media and business. They don’t care about Australia or Australians as can be evidenced by their appalling time wasting in the face of this disaster.
Is there any chance that they can be tried for crimes against humanity? Because as I see it to let entire ecosystems die through inaction deprives future generations of a priceless resource and is a crime of astronomical proportions.
Rob I agree with you on your last paragraph. When you listen to Question time and especially in the Senate everyone seems to be getting along very happily now the the Senate is changing over all sides are very chummy and are laughing at how good a job they have done. I think most politicians have failed basically except a few….
What about an emergency rescue plan for the whole marine environment and not just one or two river estuaries? Rivers are part of the marine environment. Many rivers are fouled with nutrient pollution that eventually flows into coastal ocean currents.
See:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/17/2277261.htm
It is no use changing names from coral bleaching to coral ‘white syndrome’. Equally it is no use ignoring nutrient pollution feeding invasive algae blooms that are smothering coral, followed by coral bleaching. Call it whatever when it occurs in cooler weather.
In my opinion based on evidence, the GBR has just recently experienced major nutrient pollution resulting from Australian east coast storm turbulence that has caused erosion of already nutrient saturated coastline sand. The erosion has re-suspended dissolved and solid nutrient matter en-masse while storm driven longshore current has swept what amounts to nutrient pollution northwards, adding to the nutrient load already in GBR waters.
Vesper @ 5 and Rob @ 7 should be read over and over again and again.
Also perhaps consider:
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?article=7511
Peter Garrett is a political ‘dead man walking’, his political demise is only a matter of time. If he has any integrity left, he should realize the error of his way and stand down before the next election.
Penny Wong on the other hand is quite frankly dangerous in her portfolio, because she is bright yet controlled by the Labor Party machine. Her calling for an urgent report form her departments bureaucrats, is straight out of ‘Yes, Minister’, and is a death sentence for the river. In essence it is a stalling tactic as she hopes that the media caravan rolls on to some other disaster more ‘newsworthy’.
Sorry all, but I suspect the Coorong’s only hope in the short term is for prolonged, drenching, drought breaking rains.
Penny Wong is only interested in one thing, Herself! Not only will she ensure that the Murray/Darling goes down the drain, but she also has regularly voted to ensure that her ‘own kind’ do not have equal rights at all! How could one ever trust such an individual?????
Brenton,
I agree with you also on that point. What a weird woman Penny Wong is hey? You would think she would be at least a bit progressive?
I live at the lower end of the Lakes and every day I see the situation worse than the day before but even worse than the grief at the loss desimation of the Lakes and Coorong is the anger I feel towards the rest of the Australian community who do not care about either their environment or the people of this region.
The rest of the South Australian community has learnt from years of experience that our concerns are ignored and if a South Australian like MS Wong doesnt care well, what chance to we have. The Eastern states generally remain obviliously content, happy to fight for ‘their’ water in the name of the economy.
Where are the protesters? Where is the media? Where are the politicians (this issue doesnt even make the home page of the parties websites)? Do a search - the government and tourist pages dont even mention the problems. Most have not been updated in years.
There are only a few months to save these unique ecosystems and 12 or so months until the communities will disintegrate. What will happen when the prevailing winds carries the heavy metal contaminated dust onto dry farm crops, communities, schools and houses? What will happen when the migratory birds die with out food.
My guess is no one will notice. At best they will recognise the loss with a economic justification. South Australia, the Lower Lakes and the Coorong will have been sacrificed for the Eastern states water security.
…its a shame we dont have a rainforest here, uranium or a cute fluffy mascot…
To Melanie @ 14.
I suggest, try not to feel anger towards the Australian community generally. Most people do not understand the seriousness of what is happening because the real picture is being gagged and covered up. The ABC or other major media could expose reality in a few short current affair reports that question politicians and bureaucrats face to face. Media seems to have political agenda including involvement of billions in government paid advertising. With the marine environment, which includes river flow, the agenda is development of aquaculture investment policy and not ocean environment policy.
Yes, where is the media? The media pulls some environment spokesperson into the news to claim water control is essential for the environment, but really it is also about trading water for money that a few at the top will control. Farmers lose free water. River and estuary ecosystem devastation is worsening. Consumers will pay for it all.
Google United Nations World Environment Day 2004 and then search government and media records, including on the UN year focus of, “oceans - wanted dead or alive”. You will find nothing in government or major media records. There must have been agreement for a boycott, blackout, blacklist, gag or whatever they call it. Am I blowing the whistle? Should I be concerned? Why worry, I have already documented all.
As for the birds, most are already dead. Ask older people to describe the bird and fish life that existed 40 and more years ago. It is the many Pacific island and Australian coast and river people who used to depend on free or low cost food from the sea involving barter trade and tourism, who are in real trouble. Humans also depend on the environment, not just animals. Indigenous people of the whole region are severely impacted socially and economically.
Evidence indicates toxic algae is already washing onto beaches where it dries and particles become airborne. Prevailing wind lifts heavy sand landward, creating massive sand hills, so imagine air current transportation of tiny dry toxic particles in atmosphere over the nation. On contact with body skin, toxic lyngbya algae is known to cause asthma-like attack in humans (Moreton Bay Study). Toxic algae residue in SA river water ex-Queensland/Aus inland is travelling with nutrient pollution in alongshore ocean current from SA, via VIC and NSW to the Qld coast at least.
Existing and potential asthmatics could/would likely breathe in one particle at least, perhaps even causing some asthma to begin. Imagine possible impact of a toxic particle on sensitive lung tissue. Incidence of increased asthma coincides with increased nutrient pollution that is feeding increased algae blooms. Young children are really suffering and likely will for their lifetime. It is a disgusting situation. Doctors and asthma sufferers seem unaware of toxic algae residue in dust. CSIRO somehow lacks knowledge on coastal biology and impact of nutrient pollution dumped from government sewage outlets and outfalls. Media and government is gagging it all. See;
http://greensblog.org/2008/03/03/estimates-transcripts-on-climate-biosecurity-agriculture-regional-rorts-and-more/#comments
The level of ignorance that allowed so many Jews to be killed is presently allowing the marine environment to be destroyed. Political focus seems to be about aquaculture, white meat and other industrial food production investment and tax revenue. There is need for critically urgent ACCC or similar or World Court enquiry into just who is allowing the water environment and natural staple food system of this planet to be devastated (allowed with intent).
While I agree with Vivienne (comment 4) that dairying is an extremely inefficient industry, I recently used ‘Google Maps’ to undertake a satellite ‘exploration’ of the Murray/Darling river systems starting at The Coorong in South Australia and going up to Cubbie Station on the Balonne River in Queensland, and up the Murray River to the Snowy Mountains foothills.
What strikes you immediately looking at these recent (2008) satellite images is exactly where the water that should be maintaining and/or flushing out our major river system is being stored:
1). Around Bourke, there are half a dozen dams full of water each with an area of at least 2sq km, and a further dozen or so with an area of at least 1sq km - main industry: cotton;
2). ‘Flying’ on to Carinda (14km north of the Macquarie Marshes), you will notice a 2.5 x 1.5km dam full of water, whilst the downstream Macquarie Marshes are dying;
3). Around 20km east of Collarenebri, there are a further 6 full dams of at least 1.5sq km in area, and over 600 sq km of lush green paddocks (cotton/stock feed);
4). Travelling on to Wee Waa, there are a further 4 dams with an area of 1.5-2 sq km and another 800-1000 sq km of lush green paddocks of mainly cotton;
5). Near Boorooma, between Brewarrina and Walgett, is another full dam with an area of 5-6 sq km, as well as at least three dams of 2-3 sq km, as well as 400-500 sq km of lush green paddocks of cotton/stock feed.
6). At Mungindi, on the NSW-Qld border are a further dozen full dams, with an area of 1sq km plus.
7). Finally, Cubbie Station which has a similar area to Lake Alexandrina (or around 50% of the entire Sydney or Melbourne metropolitan area!), with three full dams each with an area of at least 12-15 sq km, and a further 10 full dams each with an area of at least 1-2 sq km. These dams totally dwarf the nearby Balonne River.
8). Travelling up the Murray River from Renmark, are several large dams as well, one half-way between Renmark, SA and Wentworth NSW with an area of at least 50 sq km;
9). Two large dams near Robinvale each with an area of at least 7-8 sq km, and one near Swan Hill of 5 sq km;
10). Several dams at Kerang, Vic (1 around 9 sq km, and 5 around 2 sq km); and one near Jungaburra, Vic of 8-9 sq km.
Take a look yourself; this is a real eye opener: http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl
….and we wonder why our major river system is dying!
Jim @ 16, how about Menindee Lakes? That is a system that mostly needs closing off. A section could be kept with a deepened area to reduce evaporation that has been known since the lake system was built. Menindee is a huge impost on the Darling River that can be easily overcome if Broken Hill continues to have reliable water storage and leisure facilities.
I was under the impression that the Menindee Lakes have been around for yonks, and have always played a key role in the natural regulation of water coming down the Darling River.
The current set of weirs, regulators, levees and channels were constructed in the late 1940’s to early 1950’s.
Following the drought of the past decade, the water volume of the Menindee Lakes dropped from around 1,700,000 Megalitres in 2000 to a paltry 270,000 Megalitres in 2006.
Certainly, deepening these lakes would enable them to retain more water during prolonged dry spells, but the incredible thirst of the cotton fields further north need to be entered into the equation as well.
Cubbie Station, on the other hand has a capacity to store 500,000 Megalitres, almost double the water contained in the entire Menindee Lakes system in 2006. Cubbie also has an annual water allocation of 400,000 Megalitres, and uses over 1000 Megalitres per day.
As a comparison, Australia (nationally) used around 3,285 Megalitres a day for all domestic and stock use in 2006!
I lived at Tongo Lake on the Paroo and have always assumed Menindee Lake was relatively small when natural. Menindee Lakes were made huge to supply Broken Hill with water and waters sports. In the 60’s the huge evaporation and waste of water from Menindee lakes was common talk. Maybe they were made smaller or is the 1,700,000 to 270,000 megalitre reduction due to drought?
If a vast reduction of water has occurred in Menindee Lakes due to drought then they have to fill again before water will flow south. That would be why no recent water has reached the estuary and ocean.
John, Its not that the Menindee Lakes have to fill but that NSW has first call on the water and they only have to let water out when it reaches past their allowance. This was built into the state agreements in the 60s.
Seems ludicous now that a series of man made lakes has priority now.
It never occured to me that I would one day be a water refugee! I hope I dont end up on Nauru.
Melanie @ 20 and The Greens Party,
The 1992 Rio Earth Summit declared the precautionary approach, that full scientific certainty is not essential for States to take action where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage to the environment. The Greens should have the following tabled in all relevant Parliament.
Further serious damage to the Australian marine environment is presently occurring due to lack of fresh water flow into the the Murray and Darling River system estuary. The serious damage involves estuary marine plant food web nursery production being shut down, thus reducing food supply for local and migratory marine feeding animals that either die or impact on already stressed and devastated feeding grounds elsewhere. Marine animal populations have already been seriously reduced and inbreeding capable of causing extinction of a species is evidence toward the seriousness involved.
Surely Broken Hill and other residents will understand and assist with solutions to the present crisis that is well advanced in rivers and the marine environment. Now in any case, not many people can afford water skiing at Menindee Lakes due to cost of petrol. For many years the Menindee Lakes system has needed a deep permanent lake that is now essential for proper management of water.
All outback residents would do well to urgently understand wind-bourne spore from algae, involving dried toxic algae circulating in Australian air currents. In the Wilcannia district, at least some station rain water tanks in the past 15 years have become innundated with algae for the first time. Asthma is involved, toxic lyngbya algae at least is known to cause asthma-like attack on contact with human skin. Evidence indicates toxic algae residue from rivers and estuaries and the ocean is drying on ocean beaches and blowing inland with prevailing winds. Rivers must flush to sustain health.
Many river and estuary ecosystems are seriously damaged and devastated already and various impact can no longer be ignored. Unprecedented mass starvation and death of mutton birds has occurred along all coastline extending from Rockhampton Qld to SA and around Tas. Many many town communites are impacted by devastation of fish stocks linked to amateur fishing tourism, including even towns patronised by holidaying residents en route from country to coast. Pro fishing families have lost their livelihood, the $200 million fishing license buyback a pittance in comparison to a lost future. Alternative imported fish product is now costing Australian people over $1.3 billion annually, increasing, supply unsustainable. Cost-effective measures must be applied to manage the complete water environment.
The CSIRO has previously warned river degradation has already reached a point of no return in many rivers and that more are threatened. The number of rivers essential to sustain the marine environment, including the Great Barrier Reef, is not known. Serious consequences are already involved. Migratory fish and food web stocks and Pacific island fish based indigenous barter economies have fundamentally collapsed, resulting in civil unrest and riot now costing Australian taxpayers billions to police. Struggling nations can not manage their environment.
Key biodiversity RAMSAR sites scientifically declared essential for survival of associated ecosystems are being seriously damaged and degraded or destroyed. All damage and environment management cost-effectiveness must be totally assessed as a matter of utmost urgency.
Water management must include critically urgent national and state and local government complete management, including marine environment. NSW government is obligated to at least temporarily close off Darling River water flow into Menindee Lakes to allow an environmental flow to urgently reach the Murray - Darling estuary and the sea, in order to prevent further serious degradation to the marine environment.
Any red tape delay to temporary closure of the man-made Menindee Lakes system could warrant a World Court hearing, including for crime of negligence causing serious damage impacting RAMSAR sites, other environment, wildlife and humanity.
Jim @ 16, it should be possible using Google Earth to save ‘placemarks’ for each dam location, save them, and put the file on the web somewhere. Some of these dams should also have wikipedia entries.
Great Idea Peter (22). Some GPS coordinates would be handy too for any ‘ground’ observers, who may be in the area and able to take a closer look.
I’ve only located Wiki entries for some of the larger dams, i.e. Cubbie Station, Menindee Lakes.
I have never seen or heard so much plitical bullsh@t as what am now hearing. What, years to make plans to make plans to make a plan to fix the Murray Darling and estuary? A few pipes and pumps?
A bulldozer can shut part of Menindee Lakes and let the river flow south to the sea as soon as heavy rain falls.
Otherwise, Menindee Lakes will probably take more than one good rain and river to fill. Many years could be lost and cause the Murray and Coorong to reach a point of no return.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/08/2297176.htm