We must save the Coorong

The estuary of the Murray Darling Basin, the Coorong and Lower Lakes, desperately needs water.

Listed under the RAMSAR convention as a wetland of international significance, Australia is failing dismally in its obligation to protect this iconic part of the world.

The health of a rivers estuary reflects the overall health of the river system, which is why saving the Coorong is so important. The only way to do this is to address the massive over-allocation of water used for irrigation, as a matter of urgency.

Coorong sunset - The health of a rivers estuary reflects the overall health of the river system, which is why saving the Coorong is so important. Photo: The Wilderness Society Collection.

A recent submission by the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists to a Senate Inquiry into the issue states that “ If we are to maintain healthy rivers and provide high quality water to produce food, our analysis suggests that the consumptive use of water across the Murray Darling Basin may have to be cut by between 42 and 53 percent” (1).

We have known for decades that the amount of water pumped out of the Basin for irrigation is completely unsustainable and needs to be reduced. Despite all the talking by successive governments, very little has been done and we are now dealing with an environmental disaster and political embarrassment of international proportions.

The Commonwealth Government has promised billions of dollars to deal with the problem once and for all. Instead they are currently trying to sell the absurd idea of flooding the lower reaches of the system with the sea.

No-one with any credibility in the scientific community supports this idea, in fact many would suggest that it represents an act of environmental vandalism.

The Wilderness Society believes that this must not occur unless it is done in conjunction with the release of fresh water into the Lower Lakes system from the River Murray. To only flood the Lower Lakes with sea water will result in a hyper saline “dead sea”. This could then move into surrounding groundwater systems and decimate vast natural and agricultural areas.

Flooding with the sea is not a new idea, it has been pushed by powerful irrigation lobby groups for years as a way of further expanding the industry.

The Commonwealth Government has two choices;

It can show true leadership in a time of crisis, make the hard decisions and return the Murray Darling Basin to a sustainable situation, or it can talk the talk of previous Governments and do nothing.

One thing is for certain, the cost of inaction will be disastrous environmentally, economically and politically. 

Take Action:

Sign the online petition to protect the future of the globally significant Coorong Wetlands at the mouth of the Murray River.

Thanks for the difference you are making!
From all at the Wilderness Society

(1) Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. 2008. Submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Urgent Provision of Water to the Coorong and Lower Lakes.