24 July 2019
Scathing report is a blueprint to help save the dying Darling River
A report into the Barwon-Darling Water Sharing Plan released by the Natural Resources Commission today is a blueprint to save an ecosystem in crisis according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
“This is a scathing report which places the blame for the ecological catastrophe we have seen unfold in the Darling squarely at the feet of the NSW Government for allowing over extraction by upstream irrigators,” said Nature Conservation Council CEO, Kate Smolski.
“The NSW Government has failed to act in the interests of the communities and ecosystems that rely on a healthy river system and have instead created rules which allow irrigators to suck the river dry in times of drought.
“The report also highlights the devastating effect that climate change will have on water availability in the catchment. It is clear that a comprehensive review of climate change impacts on water availability across the entire Murray-Darling Basin is needed.
“The report recommendations are a blueprint to help save the dying Darling River and the NSW Government must act swiftly to implement them.”
The report finds:
- The Barwon-Darling is an ecosystem in crisis. Communities that live along the river are also under extreme stress.
- Changes to the water sharing rules in the Plan area have resulted in an increased allowance for extractive use at lower flow classes that are critical to the environment. These provisions benefit the economic interests of a few upstream users over the ecological and social needs of the many.
- There is clear evidence to indicate that the Plan rules are resulting in more frequent and longer cease to flow periods.
The report was commissioned by ex-NSW Water Minister Niall Blair following the recent death of a million fish in the Darling River and in response to complaints from “communities who can no longer fish, swim or drink the river water” and “graziers who have struggled to provide for their stock as the river has dried up”.
The report makes 29 recommendations, including immediate action to buy back water licenses and prevent pumping at low flows, development of strategies and rules to address the impacts of climate change and strengthened water metering, monitoring and compliance arrangements.
The report also recognises “the health and well-being of Aboriginal people is strongly connected to the health of the river” and calls for water allocations for Aboriginal Nations, the development of a NSW Aboriginal Water Strategy to ensure Aboriginal involvement in water planning and management and immediate recognition of Barkandji and Malyangapa native title rights.
LINKS:
Draft NRC report: https://www.nrc.nsw.gov.au/announcements/news-bddraftreport
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Forests and wildlifeRivers and wetlands
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