Restore integrity to fix our rivers
IF the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is “destroying our rivers” (as claimed by Helen Dalton MP, The Guardian, page 2, September 6, 2022) make no mistake, it will be our own fault.
Let’s face it, it is our policy, being implemented by our elected representatives and governments of all colours and five of eight states have been involved.
The River Peoples’ Forum, held at the Lower Murray Inn on September 2, informed the community about how we can restore integrity into the basin plan and give our best effort for a healthy river system.
There was whole-hearted agreement that we depend on a healthy system, so what can we do?
The basin plan is about returning some water from irrigation to the river system.
Numbers are fundamental, based around the initial “cap and trade” and the development of the “environmentally sustainable level of take”.
Problem is the number is being adjusted too often, without enough scrutiny to ensure it is consistent with the law and standard for all water users.
The licensing of floodplain harvesting in the northern basin is another example of really dodgy numbers happening right now and it’s going to have a massive impact on our ability to bring the system back to an acceptable level of health.
It will also undermine southern basin entitlement reliability. The NSW Government has tried to slip new regulations through four times in order to enshrine increased take of water that should be coming through the system and helping to supply South Australia.
Despite the warnings of communities, despite advice from officials, despite climate change impacts, despite ICACs findings of systemic privileging of vested irrigator interests – it seems the NSW is determined to gift billions of litres of new water licences for floodplain harvesting in the north.
The other problem is we have only implemented some of the plan. There has been very little progress to date on the “constraints” projects which would enable the best use of environmental water across the whole basin, not just the icon sites.
They would protect private land by building more roads, levies and bridges for landholders and change the rules to enable the river managers to deliver water so it reaches some of our creeks, floodplains and lakes.
The southern basin must unite to demand these actions, or accept responsibility for the degradation of our rivers.
Peta Thornton
Woorinen
Blood cancer support line
WITH four in 10 Australians diagnosed with blood cancer living in regional and remote areas, this September, during Blood Cancer Month, the Leukaemia Foundation has announced Australia’s first and only dedicated blood cancer support line to assist the growing number of Australians experiencing the devastation and disruption of a blood cancer diagnosis.
Blood cancer treatment is often complex and urgent, and life-saving care can be far from home.
Leukaemia Foundation research has also shown many Australians in regional areas face challenges and disparities in accessing treatment, leaving them feeling overwhelmed, unsure – and alone.
Whether you are personally diagnosed with blood cancer, in remission, a carer, or grieving the loss of a loved one, Australia’s blood cancer support line is now available to guide you through the emotional, physical, and psychosocial challenges of blood cancer, Monday to Friday from 10am-4pm AEST via calling 1800 620 420 or anytime via bloodcancer.org.au.
Chris Tanti
Leukaemia Foundation
Chief executive officer
Good on you, Cr Smith
JUST reading your article on Facebook comments by Cr Smith.
Firstly, has a law come to pass that people are not allowed to make comment on any subject?
“I’d be more worried if he didn’t go in for the feel”, take this into context. The boys and girls were at a function, private, the girls where paid to do a job, they where allowed to dance, hug, touch, cry to (they had just lost a finals match), the girls were paid to entertain them.
Their has been no complaints made, it was 2015. Dusty knew the girl, what more do you need to tell you that this was nothing but a “let’s see if we can upset Richmond” before they take to the ground to play football.
Blind Freddy can see this, but you then get people who love to hear, see, read their own propaganda, have their say.
Good on you, Cr Smith. I’d vote for you, I’d even go as far as paying for a bag of cement at the local hardware store for those people.
James Blunden
Wycheproof
