[Greens-Media] Action needed to avert Lower Lakes salt water scenario

[Clark, Gemma (Sen S. Hanson-Young)]

Tuesday 2 December 2008

Action needed to avert Lower Lakes salt water scenario 

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says that salt water flooding of South
Australia's Lower Lakes would be environmentally, socially and
economically disastrous for lower Murray communities.

The South Australian Government has requested advance approval from its
federal counterparts to let sea water into Lakes Alexandrina and Albert
if the drought continues.

"Sea water flooding of the Lower Lakes would be nothing less than
disastrous for this cherished part of South Australia," she said.

"The Government must cease running up the white flag on the Lower Lakes,
and instead tell us what its plan is to avert the worst case scenario
from happening."

Senator Hanson-Young pointed to evidence from the Senate Inquiry that
just 30 to 60 gigalitres of fresh water are needed for the Lower Lakes
to survive through summer, and that this amount of water is available in
the southern Basin.

 "The Greens and the communities around the Lower Lakes want to know:
when is this fresh water coming?" she asked.

"The lower Murray is suffering a painful wait for its fair share of
water allocation for environmental flows."

Senator Hanson-Young called on Environment Minister Peter Garrett to
commission an independent risk assessment of the potential consequences
of salt water flooding of the lakes before considering approving the
South Australian Government's request.

"We need to see the evidence that salt water flooding will not
contaminate the groundwater of the area around the Lakes, or cause
lasting ecological damage," she said.

"That's Mr Garrett's responsibility as the Minister under the
Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act."

Senator Hanson-Young said that there were other options to be considered
before salt water flooding.

"Evidence presented to the Senate Inquiry put forward options like
bioremediation as preferable to devastating salt water flooding.

"Our Water and Environment Ministers need to think harder before simply
dialling up permission to run up the white flag on South Australia's
Lower Lakes."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760