As State and Federal Government Ministers prepare for tomorrow’s Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting, environment groups have called on governments to commit to buying water to save the Murray River.

“The money is flowing but the Murray is still dying – it is drowning in red tape,” said ACF Healthy Rivers Campaigner, Dr Arlene Buchan.

“The cheapest and most efficient way for governments to meet their commitments to return the first 500 gigalitres of water by 2009 is to purchase water using a range of market mechanisms.”

Last week’s Federal Budget put a further $500 million towards saving the Murray on top of previous commitments of $500 million for water acquisition from State and Federal Governments.

While the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry Peter McGauran has expressed opposition to the idea of purchasing water from willing sellers for the river, some Governments have already decided to purchase water for the environment.

Media Release  11 May, 2006

The Conservation Council of South Australia (CCSA) welcomed today’s announcement by the State Government that it would seek to break the impasse between the River Murray states, by taking the initiative to return water to the River without further delay.

“So far no water has been returned to the River through the Living Murray process between the Commonwealth and the States. Returning 13gigalitres to the River immediately is the leadership that is needed to get the process moving again”, said Michelle Grady, CCSA CEO.

Rann and Kerin must listen to the people

MEDIA RELEASE

Goolwa, Sunday 12 February, 2006 The 100km Murray to Mike walk concludes in Adelaide today with a festive rally in Elder Park, featuring SA film-maker Rolf de Heer, Unions SA, SACOSS, environment groups and community members. The rally demonstrates wide community support for strong policies on climate change and renewable energy at the March 18 election.

Supported by Greenpeace and the Conservation Council of South Australia, the 27 walkers have travelled through some of Australia's most climate change-vulnerable land to draw attention to the urgent need for action to quit greenhouse polluting coal and shift to clean, renewable energy.

Entering the market and purchasing water entitlements is the only way to return ‘real’ water to the River Murray in time to avoid irreversible ecological decline.

That’s the message from environment groups ahead of this Friday’s Murray Darling Basin Ministerial Council meeting to discuss the progress of the Living Murray ‘First Step’.

 “It’s almost two years to the day since the Living Murray Initiative came into being with $500 million put forward to return 500 billion litres of water to the Murray.  Two years on, not a single drop of real water has been returned to the river,” said Dr Arlene Buchan of the Australian Conservation Foundation.

 “It’s looking like it might take years for the Living Murray to return real water to the Murray – and that’s time the stressed river system simply doesn’t have,” she said.

28 September 2005

Australia risks losing one of its greatest natural icons through government neglect, a coalition of groups has warned.

According to research released this month the Coorong, at the mouth of the Murray River in South Australia, is in terminal decline and risks permanent collapse unless more water is provided for the Murray.

Murray River not dying, say Vic Nationals

There are new claims today that the Murray River isn't dying after all.

Peter Walsh, deputy leader of the Victorian National Party, says the environmental health of the river has been exaggerated by politicians, in a bid to get more city votes.

Mr Walsh told the Murray Darling Association's national conference that some claims about the river have been based on selective use of scientific data.

"The key indicator for a long time is the salinity levels at Morgan they have actually been falling.

"If you look at some of the nutrient level points along the river they have not been increasing now ever since measurement has started.

"The very good work that has been done is showing some improvement in the river and before we throw the baby out with the bath water we need to actually have a cold shower on this thing."

Senator Wong addressing Parliament this week

Unfortunately, what we have had from the Howard government on this front is a lot of talk and a lot of fancy announcements but very little action. This government has not delivered one litre of additional environmental flows since it has been elected. It has had many high-profile announcements but, unfortunately, on the ground we are not seeing the urgent action which is required. Earlier this year, we had a COAG announcement committing to an additional 500 gigalitres of additional environmental flows down the River Murray. It is a welcome announcement but it is far too little. We know from scientists that the River Murray requires 1,500 gigalitres of additional environmental flows just to give it a moderate chance of being restored to health. We have no commitment from this government to that level of environmental flow. In fact, we have even had members of this government in the other place signing off on a report disputing that science, when no-one else who has any knowledge of this debate in any way disputes the need for 1,500 gigalitres.