[Greens-Media] Greens amendments move to better manage water in Murray Darling Basin

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens amendments move to better manage water in Murray Darling Basin
Wednesday 26th November 2008

The Senate today passed more important, common-sense Green amendments to
the Water Bill, enabling better management of water in the Murray
Darling Basin, said Australian Greens spokesperson on water, Senator
Rachel Siewert. These included:

* A joint Greens-Coalition motion passed late last night to exclude
additional new extraction of water for uses outside the basin (such as
the Sugarloaf Pipeline)

* Progressively weaning other populations outside of the Basin off their
current reliance on its limited flows 

* Giving the Murray Darling Basin Authority more independence from
Ministerial direction or political interference

* Giving the Authority the ability to employ more than one full time
member (for instance, allowing for a full-time chair to help with its
enormous workload)

* Investigating and preventing the impact of long-wall mining activities
on groundwater flows, such as the problem in the Liverpool Plains

"The Greens believe that limited water resources within the
Murray-Darling Basin need to be retained within the Basin. We do not
support any new extractions outside the Basin and believe that we need
to progressively wean outsider users off the system," said Senator
Siewert.

"Victoria's investments in irrigation efficiency to 'save' water for the
Sugarloaf Pipeline is modernisation activity that should be undertaking
anyway to address over-allocation. The solution to Melbourne's perceived
water problems lie in Melbourne, not in the Murray Darling Basin."

"There is only a limited amount that can be recovered this way and all
of it is urgently needed to help basin communities and threatened
ecosystems deal with the impacts of climate change. Basin communities
are hurting, and precious ecosystems are literally dying for a drink."

"The Greens' amendments are working to ensure the future of Australia's
water is properly managed and planned effectively," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180