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 Diversion of Darling River flows into Menindee Lakes, August 2010

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 Darling River below Menindee, August 2010

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Confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers, August 2002

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Confluence of the Murray and Darling Rivers, August 2010

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Earthworks of suspected surface water diversion, Darling catchment

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Intake pumps, River Murray

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Darling River Trilby Station. Photo by Mark Ingram Photography

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The Darling River Louth. Photo by Mark Ingram Photography

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Diversion of the Culgoa River, Cubbie Station. Photo by Google Earth

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Lake Albert, October 2008

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Lake Albert, October 2008

Frontpage Slideshow (version 2.0.0) - Copyright © 2006-2008 by JoomlaWorks
AUSTRALIA'S WATER IS NEITHER A POLITICAL NOR A CORPORATE RESOURCE

Fair Water Use is an independent and politically non-aligned lobby group, organised and supported by ordinary Australians who share concerns about Australia's water future - especially that of the Murray-Darling Basin.

Further details HERE

 
WATER POLICY: TELL US WHAT YOU THINK

Given the heated debate on the upcoming Basin Plan and water policy in general, Fair Water Use is keen to know your thoughts on these issues. Please take a moment to complete a brief questionnaire, as it will assist us in prioritising our efforts:

 

VIEW SURVEY

 

 
The Voices for the Murray-Darling Initiative

After repeated delays, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is now aiming to publish its Guide to the Basin Plan in November.

The Draft Guide, released by the Authority last year, indicated that, if the aim of the Basin Plan was to return the Murray-Darling to good health, environmental flows should be increased by at least 7,600 gigalitres per annum.

It surprised many observers that the Authority, the statutory body charged with protecting the Murray-Darling river system, recommended that only half this volume be sought; all but admitting that this decision, which threatens the very future of the river system, was driven by fear of backlash from powerful vested interests within the irrigation sector.

Following release of the Draft Guide, the Authority was justifiably criticised for the manner in which it presented its recommendations for public discussion. However, the vitriol which emanated from maverick groups of irrigators largely resulted from knee-jerk rejection of the figure of 3,000 to 4,000 gigalitres proposed by the Authority - despite the Draft Plan clearly stating that this reduced volume would be insufficient to revive the ecological health of many river valleys in the Basin, upon which all Basin farmers, and not just the irrigating minority, depend.

As part of its campaign to demand the substantial increase in environmental flows required to ensure the ecological health of the river system and thereby the future of all those who seek to utilise its water, Fair Water Use has agreed to join the Voices for the Murray-Darling, a national alliance of concerned groups and community members – both from the Basin and metropolitan Australia – who agree that Australia’s lifeblood is in crisis and the problem needs to be fixed now.

Supporters of Fair Water Use, and all those concerned about this critical issue, are urged to visit the Voices for the Murray-Darling website for more information about the campaign and to sign a petition, to be presented to Craig Knowles, the current Chair of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.

Read more...
 
Fair Water Use cosignatory to UN submission

"We, the under-signed organizations, representing civil-society organizations and social movements from around the world, call upon the members of the UN NGO Committee to reject the application of Aquafed, the International Federation of Private Water Operators, for United Nations ECOSOC consultative status at the May 16-24, 2011 session of the committee."

Full submission may be viewed HERE

 
FWU Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Provisions of the Water Act 2007

 

 

 

FWU is concerned that this Inquiry will recommend amendment to the Water Act 2007, to allow the Commonwealth to downgrade its commitment to the environment of the Murray-Darling river system, to placate an outspoken section of the irrigation community.

 

Our submission addresses these important issues . . . .

Read more...
 
National Commission of Inquiry

Excellent rains have provided welcome relief for the Murray-Darling. 

However, unless we learn from our mistakes, and more importantly those made by the administrations and institutions responsible for the river system, it will only be a matter of a few short years before the situation is as grim as it was until recently. 

The draft terms of reference for a National Public Commission of Inquiry into the Murray-Darling crisis (NPCI) produced by Fair Water Use are even more relevant now.

We have provided The Hon Tony Burke, the new Minister with responsibility for water, with a copy of this document and await his comments.

 
Gross value of agricultural commodities and related irrigation data 2005-2006*

* All calculations based on data obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics

 

Water Use
National
(Billion litres)

Value
National
($ AU)

Litres irrigated / $ AU generated
(National)

Water Use
Murray Darling
(Billion litres)


All commodities

<  11,000  

37.3 billion 

295 

7,400

All crops 

7,850 

19.6 billion  

400

5,400 

Cotton 

> 1,730  

< 1 billion  

1828

> 1,500 

Rice 

> 1,250 

1/4 billion  

4569

>1,250  

Non-rice grains 

< 700 

7.4 billion 

228

< 625  

Wheat 

 

5.1 billion  

 

 

 
"When the Big Gum Falls"
A new acoustic version of the CD single that we have been promoting for the last few months is now available for free download, thanks to the generosity of publisher and FWU supporter, Black Cockatoo Music, which has donated the song to help us continue and expand our efforts, advocating revision of the management of the Murray-Darling, based on a genuine care for its environment. The lyrics appear at the foot of this posting.
 
DOWNLOAD "WHEN THE BIG GUM FALLS" :  HERE 

If you do download the single, please consider making a donation to FWU via the secure PayPal service:

 

Read more...
 

Become a supporter

Help fight the good fight.

It's free - and definitely worth it!

Register here

FWU fundraising CD


 

"When the big gum falls"

New acoustic version available for download

Details Here

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Advocating environmentally responsible use of Australia's water

Fair Water Use is an independent and politically non-aligned lobby group,

organised and supported by ordinary Australians who share concerns about Australia's water future

- especially that of the Murray-Darling Basin