We have received a heartfelt request from Shane Strudwick of the Murray-Darling region to publicise their petition. Australians all know these communities are struggling with drought, massive income losses due to lack of water allocations and a huge downturn on tourism numbers, BUT, people there are really concerned at the NO PLAN: NO ACTION: NO RESPONSE from Federal and State Governments.
Eventually all Australians will be affected through regional job losses, increased costs of food and economic impacts, but despite all the talk governments are ‘are sitting on their hands’ and ostensibly ‘doing NOTHING to help’ says Shane. He asks,
“If you’re an irrigator, tourism operator, dairy farmer, houseboat owner, business owner, resident or are in the cities and other towns and realise the impact this crisis will have then please sign this petition. Please email this page link to anyone who is concerned about the lack of government action in Australia’s ‘Food Bowl’ which produces 40% of Australia’s food.
We need a huge community response for action. This petition will be delivered to all governments responsible for management of the Murray-Darling Basin. Be part of the solution and get into action. We need 100,000 voices to make a difference. Visit http:www.rivermurray.com to sign.”
I’ve signed the petition as editor of PWF and asked why there can’t be a regular update on what governments are doing, offering PWF as a publisher of such info.
Please support the Murray-Darling communities by signing their petition.
For more info you can contact Shane on 08 8363 6244 OR 0409 678 654
6 Comments
I read in the sun news pictorial (melb.)62 years ago that the murray river was in trouble, several elected state political parties have ignored this warning up till now, john howard forwarded a plan, which again was treated with ignorance and we will neve know what outcome the murray would have experienced,I believe that polititions should be elected with a percentage rating performance within their portfolios,or face expelment from the parliament, ( performansce over a period) each twelve months by a forum of across the board of electors, KENNETH
Pigs will fly and I support it in all ways its interesting to note the response from far and wide and I will be the first to admit it
I think that building a Weir and lock at Wellington and allowing the seawater into the lower Murray and the lake system would save loss of evapouration over the lakes and lower murray, and in good times would allow fresh water to flow into the Coorong ,and leave the river navical from the lakes.
Vic Wilkin
As Above/ I left a letter out in my original address
emypark@iprimus.com.au
I support positive intervention in the form of action not just empty endless promises. I support interventions and actions provided South Australian communities are given equal consideration as does the saving or our wetlands and Lake Bonney in Barmera SA.
I do not however support a weir at Wellington as it will have a negative impact on ecosystems and human communities downstream.
All State Governments and the Federal Government must start harvesting Stormwater – stop talking aout it; do IT, I am. Desalination plants must be a secondary consideration, reverse osmosis plants may be an alternative for many smaller communities. Defiately limit water hungry crops such as cotton, rice – suport 3rd world communities that have ample water in grwing these crops safely instead.
Unfortunately our generation will be blamed for casing irriversable environmental damage to our mighty river systems.
Mismanagement and self greed by the state’s have contributed to over allocation and unsustainable practises resulting in less water for the environment.
Australian’s should all be seriously concerned about this damage and demand the fed government take control of the MDB before it is too late.