[Greens-Media] MARK PARNELL MLC: Adelaide must share pain in Murray water crisis

[Greens]

Media Release
19 April 2007

Adelaide must share pain in Murray water crisis
 

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has renewed his call for Adelaide to wean itself
off the Murray within 10 years, on the back of depressing forecasts of
continuing record inflows and further cuts for irrigators. 

"We're asking irrigators, and the communities of Wellington, the Lower
Lakes and Barmera to take a major hit, yet Adelaide is still drawing its
full allocation from the Murray.

"To save the river, more water is urgently required at every single
kilometre of the Murray's journey to the Coorong.

"Two things need to happen urgently - Firstly, there needs to be an
immediate buyback of water licences, and secondly, Adelaide needs to
stop relying on the River Murray as its major source of water.

"For many years we've had a complacent belief that we will always be
able to rely on the Murray.  We can no longer do that.  Adelaide must
protect itself by ensuring it does not rely on a severely stressed river
for most of its water," he said.

Australian of the Year Tim Flannery has reinforced the current record
inflows are a system of a longer term change in our water due to climate
change.

"We've entered scary new territory, and we must start adjusting.  Other
opportunities such as domestic rainwater, stormwater and effluent re-use
need to be urgently re-prioritised as the primary sources of our water
into the future. 

"Most importantly, we need the state government to start shifting away
from last century thinking on how Adelaide uses Murray water," he said.

          

For further comment contact Craig Wilkins on 0434 007 893

 


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