[Greens-Media] Hanson-Young: Allocate environmental flows to save Lakes, Coorong

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

Tuesday 4 August 2009

Allocate environmental flows to save Lakes, Coorong

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young says state and federal governments
must re-think water priorities, or else preside over South Australia's
internationally significant Lower Lakes and Coorong fading into history.

Irrigators throughout the Murray-Darling Basin have been granted access
to more of their allocations, including an extra 25 gigalitres from the
June-July rainfall, and the Queensland Government has flagged re-issuing
dormant irrigation licences. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said
there is not enough water in the river system to save it all.

"If we are serious about saving our Lower Lakes and Coorong, then we
must ensure we are allocating environmental flows for the river," said
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for the Lower Murray.

"Despite increases in allocation for some users, the river itself has
missed out yet again.

"The Federal Government must take real responsibility for the crisis
facing our great river system and not shy away from pulling states into
line.

"The encouraging recent rainfall should be seen as an opportunity to get
stuck into restoring the health of the river, not to allow more to be
extracted.

"Without a healthy river, the communities and industries which rely upon
are suffering too.

"The Greens will continue working together with Lakes and Coorong
communities, as we know that the river will die from the mouth up
without a freshwater solution."

Media contact: Gemma Clark on 0427 604 760