June 18, 2008
The Advertiser, Adelaide, Australia
THE parched Murray-Darling river system has started to die, turning into acid capable of burning human flesh, an expert has said as a leaked report warned the iconic waterway is on the verge of dying.
Photo: In Australia’s worst drought for over 100 years, this vast river system is struggling to survive. Lack of rain, over-allocation of water to irrigators, poor planning and a drying climate have reduced the upper reaches of this vast river system to a mere trickle. During the past year, flows into the Murray-Darling Basin have been the lowest on record. Climate scientists say this is just a sample of what’s to come because of global warming. The report to governments said the lower lakes section of the system was on its last legs.
Mike Young, professor of water economics at the University of Adelaide, says parts of the Murray-Darling Basin were becoming acidic as underwater soils became exposed to the sun.
"If you put your hands in it you get burnt," Prof Young said. "This is sulfuric acid.
"Once you get to there, then there's no turning back. Those systems are now dead forever."
Prof Young joined environmental groups and political parties today in calling for governments to dramatically speed up efforts to save the Murray-Darling.
The basin, Australia's main irrigation zone, stretches from southern Queensland through NSW and Victoria and into South Australia.
The report by the Natural Resource Management Board of the South Australian Murray-Darling Basin set an October deadline on action to return water to the rivers.
But federal and state water ministers are not due to meet until November - sparking criticism they are moving too slowly on the crisis.Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said it was outrageous the Federal Government would do nothing about the report for months.
Photo: The Murray /Darling valley catchments are drying fast. It's what the Nile is to ancient Egypt, the Tigris and Euphrates is to the Babylonians. This is where the Australians first learned to till and irrigate the land and where Sheep were first grazed.
"The government's missing in action when it comes to the greatest river system in this country and the urgent need for action," he said.
Opposition water spokesman Greg Hunt called for an emergency meeting of governments.
"We need the ministers to come together now, not in four, five, six or seven months," he said.
But Federal Water Minister Penny Wong said governments were ready to take action to save the Murray-Darling. "I have asked for urgent advice on what we can do in the short term," she said.
Ms Wong said action in response to the report had not been deferred until November.
"If urgent decisions need to be made by the ministerial council, that can occur out of session," she said.
Senator Wong said the Government appreciated the urgency of the situation. She noted the $3.1 billion buy-back of irrigation water had already begun.
Prof Young blamed state governments and irrigators for dragging their feet on returning water to the Murray-Darling, not the Federal Government. However, he said the water buy-backs were progressing far too slowly.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,23882838-2682,00.html