For the last few months, Gavin Hanlon, managing director of Coliban Water, one of the struggling authorities, has been extolling the virtues of unrestricted water use  – as long as the consumer is able to foot the bill.

Today’s comment from Coliban chairman, John Brooke, that it was not anticipated that water shortages would be ongoing in the region, raises yet more concerns that water providers have little understanding of the severity or implications of the water crisis.

Until water is protected as a public good, it will continue to be marketed as a commodity, rather than nurtured as an essential natural resource, and its providers will continue to promote increased consumption - to the detriment of the environmental health of our river systems, which is integral to Australia’s water future.

Fair Water Use repeats its call for the Commonwealth to declare a State of Emergency in the Murray-Darling Basin.