Coorong, Lakes and Murray Waterkeeper Update
Meeting with State Parliamentary Liberal Opposition
Monday 10th December the State Parliamentary Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith, the Shadow Cabinet and Liberal MPs came down to talk with the communities around Lake Alexandrina. Meetings were held at Clayton, Milang and Langhorn Creek. There was a genuine interest on the part of the Opposition Leader and MPs in hearing what the community had to say.
Paul Davis (Coorong, Lakes and Murray Waterkeeper) and members of Rivers, Lakes and Coorong Action Group (RLCAG Inc) had significant opportunities to raise matters in both the general consultation process and in one on one conversation with MPs.
The SA Liberal Opposition has declared it does not support the proposed temporary weir near Wellington. A number of MPs stated that their understanding of the environmental impacts and related issues changed as a result of the visits. MPs opposition to the weir is not just a political stance but an informed environmental, social and economic position.
In particular we have been successful in overturning a widely held false understanding of the natural history of the Lakes and Coorong. Many people believe that the barrages at the end of the system have created an artificial fresh water hydrology in the Lakes. At Clayton we were able to explain that Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert in their natural state were fresh water systems. MPs were then able to discuss the matter further at Milang with Terry Sim (secretary of RLCAG Inc), co-author of the book A Fresh History of the Lakes: Wellington to the Murray Mouth, 1800s to 1935.
A consistent message was put at all three locations with irrigators, farmers, professional fishermen, environmentalists and tourism based businesses all agreed in their opposition to the weir and the need for sustained environmental flows.
The effort of SA Liberal Party MP Adrian Pederick (Hammond) in consistently opposing the weir in both political and public forums has been of critical importance and much appreciated. Similarly the martin Hamilton-Smith and the opposition Leaders
All local TV broadcasters covered the visits in their news services.
Paul Davis (Coorong, Lakes and Murray Waterkeeper) and River, Lakes and Coorong Action Group Inc are preparing for possible legal challenges to the proposed weir at Pomanda Island (below Wellington) in Lake Alexandrina.
This is a major undertaking and the group has strategically allocated various roles to members to assist in the efficient preparation of our case.
Paul will be collating and preparing material for an appeal against any decision to approve the weir.
Media Coverage
Today I have spoken with Lisa Symonds journalist with The Courier, a highly regarded, national award winning regional SA newspaper.
As a result of this conversation she is going interview Terry Sims co-author of the book, A Fresh History of the Lakes: Wellington to the Murray Mouth, 1800s to 1935.
December 20, 2007