MEDIA RELEASE

On national television yesterday, coordinator Ian Douglas indicated that a Fair Water Use team, currently in the Upper Darling on a fact-finding mission, has confirmed reports that the Darling River is dry above Wilcannia, whilst, not far to the west, the Paroo River is flowing strongly.  

Dr Douglas stated yesterday that both the upper Darling and Paroo catchments have largely received above average to well above average rainfall over the past nine months, and added that the Paroo is the only significant river in the region that is free from major dams and diversions. These findings tend to refute, for once and for all, the mantra emanating from those involved in water interception in the region, that they have insignificant impacts on flows into the Murray-Darling system.

Fair Water Use fully supports the recent joint proposal from the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Inland Rivers Network whereby the Federal Government purchase strategic large private agribusiness irrigators within the Murray-Darling basin.  

Dr Douglas indicated that such an action would have both short and long term benefits for the river system. Fair Water Use has estimated that all the properties identified in the proposal could be acquired for significantly less than one billion dollars, enabling access to 300 gigalitres currently held in storage and a projected 500 gigalitres annually thereafter.  

These figures compare very favourably with those for the planned desal plant in Adelaide, which will produce a mere one-tenth of this volume per year at a cost of at least $1.4 billion to South Australian tax payers.  

Fair Water Use recommends that, following purchase of the properties, the water currently impounded would be used as ?collateral?, enabling the immediate release of the equivalent volume of water from the Menindee Lakes, as part of reasonable efforts to stave off collapse of the Lower Murray, and obviating the need for construction of the proposed weir at Wellington.  

Fair Water Use proposes that currently-impounded water acquired under the ACF/IRN proposal be released following summer rains in the northern Darling catchment, enabling it to be directed into the Menindee Lakes with markedly reduced transmission losses, and calls upon the Federal Government to commence purchase negotiations with the owners of the properties in question.