The world’s fresh water supplies are almost fully exploited.Almost al, 97 per cent, of the world’s water is salt. Of the fresh water in the world, two thirds is locked up as ice and snow (the cryosphere – to you and me, kid!). Globally, three quarters of the water that is used is used by agriculture. India, China and the United States, use more fresh water than is available. The water level in those nation’s aquifers is falling as a result.The current food crisis has come about largely as a result as the shortfall in available water begins to impact on the cost of irrigation.Â
Ms Gillard says money for the stormwater harvesting and reuse program would be boosted with a project in eastern Adelaide set to be given $10 million first.
“This project brings together the Burnside, Norwood, Payneham, St Peters, Campbelltown, Tea Tree Gully and town of Walkerville councils to create a network of stormwater capture, storage and distribution sites across eastern Adelaide,” she said.
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“There’s a huge demand for [water] in Australia and there’s a huge supply up here which is untapped,” he said.
Despite the huge construction costs, Mr Ariel believes it would be cheaper than desalination plants and water recycling.
“The advantage that this project has is the sheer volumes of water available,” he said.
“It’s available all year round. It doesn’t require expensive dams.”
Mr Ariel says the pipeline could provide six gigalitres a day to be used for consumption, irrigation or pumped into the Murray-Darling river system.
He says he is confident he would be able to reach agreements with the thousands of PNG landowners who would be affected by the pipeline.
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Eight years ago the Commonwealth, New South Wales and Victorian governments agreed to spend $375 million to improve the dwindling river’s flow.
The deal included a target environmental flow of 15 per cent below the Jindabyne Dam by mid-2009, but it is still only at 4 per cent.
Louise Crisp, from the Snowy River Alliance says the New South Wales Government is most to blame.
“It’s been a case of misinformation, obstruction, basically simple lack of cooperation between the three governments the whole way,” she said.
“New South Wales has been particularly recalcitrant. Really no beneficial outcomes from the licence review were delivered to the Snowy River and yet still the Snowy River is in a desperately poor state.”
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“Councillor Wall is paying the price for defying community opposition to the dam.
“Labor MP for Newcastle and enthusiastic Tillegra promoter Jodi McKay should pay careful attention to Mayor Wall’s fate.
“The Keneally government has relied on Glenn Wall’s defiance of Council’s October 2009 resolution against Tillegra to perpetuate the myth that the local Dungog community was largely in support of the $477 million.
“Their cover is now gone.
“Tillegra is opposed throughout the Hunter, including in the community that was supposed to be welcoming the massive dam.
“Councillor Wall and his small group of Tillegra boosters have failed in their attempt to convince the community that short-lived construction jobs would compensate for the loss of on-going employment in agriculture.
“Council’s vote reflects the overwhelming concern that Tillegra will not only damage the local environment but would also undermine the region’s economic future.
“Jodi McKay should take the very clear message coming from Dungog Council back to state Cabinet. They should think again about their support for the dam that very few people want,” Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
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Another message from the Greens Media mailing list.
Dungog Council move on Mayor for failure to represent on dam
Media release: 20 July 2010
Dungog Mayor Glenn Wall should resign for failing to express the Dungog
Council’s position on Tillegra dam regardless of the numbers at
tonight’s Council meeting, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.
Commenting on the no confidence motion in Councillor Wall to be moved
this evening, Dr Kaye said: “Newcastle Labor MP Jodi McKay’s public
support for Councillor Wall is hardly surprising.
“The Mayor has been running political cover for a dam that is unpopular
and damaging to the local community, economy and environment.
“At its October meeting last year Dungog Council voted that it could
not support the proposed Tillegra dam project as detailed in Hunter
Water’s EAR, and to call on the state government to review the social,
economic and environmental costs and to commission an Upper House
inquiry.
“Only Glenn Wall and one other councillor voted against this motion.
“The Mayor has failed in his duty to act on the substance and spirit of
the council’s resolution.
“Dungog is at risk of being foisted with a massive dam that is unwanted
and will inflict untold damage on the local economy.
“The Keneally government is desperate to keep Glenn Wall in his key job
to help them push ahead with Tillegra.
“Ms McKay’s intervention is another example of her government’s callous
disregard for the local consequences of this dam. She does not speak for
the people of Dungog or the Williams River Valley.
“It is time for the local council to be led by a mayor who stands up
for jobs and the environment. If Cr Wall cannot or will not represent
the people of Dungog Shire, he should stand aside.
“Tonight’s vote is a chance for the councillors to put in place a Mayor
who will provide it,” Dr Kaye said.
For more information: John Kaye 0407 195 455
Chief executive of the National Irrigators Council Danny O’Brien says delaying release of the draft brings the Authority’s independence into question.
He says the delay is unjustified.
“My understanding, looking at the caretaker convention on the government website, is that it related to major policy decisions and this is not a major policy decision,” he said.
“It is the guide to the plan, to the draft plan in fact.
“Even the Authority has made it clear that this is a discussion paper. Governments will not be asked to make a decision on the basin plan until next year. The guide should be released as soon as possible.”
South Australian Riverland MP Tim Whetstone says the latest delay is extremely disappointing.
“I am outraged the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) are not going to release the plan until after the election and I think every irrigator and every water user should feel the same way,” he said.
“It’s not acceptable that they continue to stall the plan and one would ask just how political is the MDBA?”
The Authority has declined to comment.
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