[Greens-Media] NSW embarrassed back into National Water Initiative

[Paul Sheridan]

Media
Release								8
March, 2005

NSW embarrassed back into National Water Initiative

The Carr Government has been embarrassed into re-signing the National
Water Initiative, following a series of bureaucratic stuff ups and
serious incidents of mismanagement of NSW rivers in recent months,
Greens MLC Ian Cohen said today.

"Craig Knowles has had to admit his brave new world of water sharing
plans for the state's rivers has so far been a failure and he now
realises he needs the money the Federal Government is offering to save
himself." 

The National Competition Council suspended $26 million of NSW
competition payments this year because the Carr Government has failed to
show how water sharing plans return enough water to the rivers. NSW is
the only state that has had its payments docked.

Mr Cohen said the decision to re-sign to the National Water Initiative
is an admission the state's river systems are in crisis.

More than 8000 Ibis chicks died last month in the internationally
recognised Gwydir Wetlands after the Department of Natural Resources
(DIPNR) failed to release enough water into the river system.

"The Gwydir and Gingham Wetlands are dying because the NSW Government
continues to deny them the water they need to survive.

"The same story is being repeated in the Macquarie Marshes, near
Warren, where landholders have had to stand by and watch vital bird
breeding areas wither and die because of a lack of water.

"Instead of recognising the problem and using new water sharing plans
to increase environmental flows and keep rivers healthy, the Carr
Government chose a path of action that has pushed the state's rivers
to the point of destruction."


Further Information: Paul Sheridan, 0410 516 656