Australia’s True Catastrophe happening now
By Shane Strudwick : 17.3.08

The Murray River, Lower Lakes and Coorong can't wait until 2011 for something to happen. It's a disaster now. Under the new National approach just signed by all Governments on 26.3.08, environmental flows of 1,500GL will come in 2018 for the health of the river system including an interim environmental flow of 200GL at the Murray Mouth until the Basin Plan is development...huh, 2018! The Murray is dying NOW, TODAY!

The impact of the drought is something that needs to be seen first hand. This is an account of my recent drought disaster tour that stretched from Mannum in the lower sections of the Murray River to Narrung and Meningie in the lower lakes next to the internationally recognised Coorong.

Unfortunately, the signs and indicators of drought aren't evident until it's bitten. The drought through the Murray-Darling Basin is hurting all. Immediate impact on the economy through water restrictions to irrigators is very evident and environmental damage is devastating. In many parts of the basin, however, irrigators have had different restrictions applied creating an inequitable impact. South Australian irrigators have had their water allocation cut by 68%. Imagine having your wage cut by 68% and still make a living. Another impact from the drought is the confidence in regional communities along the river. As irrigators and farmers need to cut costs there is less money spent in the region. There are also less visitors through tourism as the media's message is ‘the Murray has no water’. Another major impact is environmental as we've taken our greatest river system for granted and it's dying while the international community watches how we manage the situation.

Allocations have been cut to keep minimal environmental flows in the river due to the division and allocations among the states that are part of the Murray-Darling Basin. Yet as the river drops below Lock 1 in South Australia, the impact is most felt closer and closer to Lake Alexandrina, Lake Albert and the Murray mouth. Spreading like a cancer, the impact of low flows has nearly decimated irrigators in the lakes and is having a devastating impact on lakes communities like Goolwa and Meningie. Environmental impacts in this precious part of the basin are evident with bird life leaving the area, mussels dying and fish stocks struggling.

The lack of water in the lakes has nearly decimated the once jewel in the crown of South Australia's dairy industry. Dairy farmers in the lakes were amongst the most efficient in Australia with water management and now that water in the lakes is both nearly inaccessible, along with the growing concern with water quality and bacteria, has turned this once lush dairy landscape into a series of vacated dairies that have been mothballed. Families are leaving the region and quality drinking water needs to be trucked in with no subsidies or support from the government. Farmers report there has been no consultation by governments with the locals both along the river and in the lakes as to what action would be the best to challenge water management today and into the future.

I recently took an environmental drought impact tour starting in Murray Bridge, then up to Mannum and down to the Lakes, through the Narrows, finishing in Meningie to see the extent of the drought on the environment. I was joined by many farmers in the region who wanted to get some perspective on the extent of the disaster unfolding. Many of these farmers were based around Jervois up to Murray Bridge. Farmers that have had to make serious choices regarding their future, management, costs and ability to deal with the stress of working with only 32% of their water allocation.

The disaster is bringing social, economic and environmental impacts. It is unfolding at the end of the Murray is showing many serious signs which our governments need to create urgent solutions and actions for.

After leaving Murray Bridge, we headed up river for the small dairy community of Pompoota Apart from the now normal dry pastures in the lower regions, the first signs of a stressing environment are now showing. We saw a 100 plus year old gum tree, among other perceived healthy gums, falling. The soil of this region is impacted by the natural drought but also the lack of watered pastures. The land has dried out and the trees’ shallow root system can't hold in the soil. Other older trees in the region are also showing signs of significant stress.

The other difficulty is the responsibility and costs to manage these issues. Due to government (both local and state) legislation, management of fallen trees, trimming of trees and land slippage, especially as the drought bites hard, is creating a minefield of legal issues. Without any support from governments and councils, farmers are left to foot the bill adding additional pressures. Now, as circumstances deteriorate and other environmental impacts become evident, farmers are concerned about reporting issues before they become significant hazards.

From here, we went around to the ferry at Mannum. The upsteam ferry is now decommissioned and placing significant pressure on the community in many ways.  One significant cost will be feed for farmers. If the ferries start closing due to lower river levels, the extra costs placed through transportation will add more pressure to producing basic items for our rural communities. This adds more pricing pressure in the cities for goods. Other less noticeable impacts include pressure and delays on emergency services attending cross river events. Children are now not committing to sports clubs in the advent of ferry closures and much longer delays for transportation. Ferries are a vital transport connector for rural and river communities and their disconnection adds additional pressure.

We met a farmer in the swamps near Mannum. He felt there were some benefits to the drought as a salinity has dropped on the land allowing for better pastures. However the positives were few and far. Another significant issue is the cracking of levy banks on both sides. Should these banks give way who will pay for the cost of reconstruction? Opposite the swamps a cliff face of willow trees has collapsed and fallen over 20 metres into the river. Just the tops of these trees in the river now show signs of becoming hazards for water craft There has been a report of a houseboat going on the inside of trees. Other trees collapsing have been reported.

We then visited another property near Mypolonga. This was a serious issue of land slippage. Indicators started with small 3cm cracks within 2 weeks developing into significant land slippage resulting in 7 feet drops away from the bank. The land slippage now means that willow trees are dislodging and ending up in the river. Things are so serious that consultants can't see ways to support the land or retrieve land and trees. The land is so unstable that significant safety issues are being raised. Again, the responsibility of this is expected to be born by the land owner. The danger of trees being left to fall, then float in the river, are becoming more regular.

Just out of Murray Bridge we took some dirt roads showing significant cracks to the point where deep holes were developing. The local council is struggling to deal with the constant collapse and cracking. Sealed roads are also cracking and slipping. They are now very dangerous for driving as the soil slowly slides and breaks up. The local council is considering removing the bitumen and returning it to dirt. I feel this is disguising the true extent of the problem as the cost of maintaining bitumen roads is high.

After leaving Murray Bridge we headed for Narrung (Lower Lakes between Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert) through Tailem Bend. The once lush green pastures of Jervois opposite Tailem Bend are now brown and dead as all water has been traded upriver. Not so long ago, where 60-70 dairies once operated, now only approximately 10 remain. They are only just holding on which drives up the cost of dairy products as output reduces. This trading of water away from the lakes ensures that a bare minimum of flow is going into the lakes with a total allocation of 4% of flow is now allowed for the environment and river system. At such low amounts, it's not possible for the Murray River, lakes and the Coorong to remain healthy and signs for death are obvious.

Our first visit at Lake Alexandrina was to Clem and Lea Mason's Dairy property. Once a proud dairy, they've been forced to sell their stock as the water quality and accessibility became difficult and challenging. Our guide in the region was Lesley Fischer. Mick and Lesley have been operating in the region for over 30 years between the shores of Lake Albert and the Coorong on the Narrung Peninsula. Once a proud dairy, they've been forced to sell their stock as the water quality and accessiblity became difficult.

They used the worst quality water in the system, the water everyone else had used and no one else wanted and were acknowledged in the top 10% of  milk producers  in Australia for quality milk . They also utilised world best practice water efficient practices with their own weather station, monitoring wind, evaporation, salinity, and moisture probes to minimise water losses etc. Now water pipes aren't long enough to reach quality water. This was our first glimpse of the lake on the eastern side from Milang. Clem described the lake in previous years lapping at the edge. The wall of tyres is no where near the water but were used to prevent bank erosion in the past by water. Now, as the lake recedes, sand banks are building 100 metres from the original lake's edge. We moved onto Coorong Dairy - still hanging in there. They have had to cut their dairy significantly and have reduced milk production by around 60%. Dairies like these have also cut significant staff which continues to impact on the local communities.

As we moved further south towards The Narrows and Narrung, the impact of the receding lakes continues to show damaging signs. As we move the bus onto the ferry, dead willow trees remain entangled in the wind barrier. The Government "man made" cause way built in the 1960's half way out across the Narrows virtually blocking off the natural flow between the two lakes, in actual fact the flow between the two lakes has changed. The causeway has blocked off the flow and over the past 40+ years reeds have grown on the sheltered side and caused the natural flow to be minimised and blocked.

Driving through Narrung, there was the loneliness of farm after farm that's been mothballed. Once an abundant and thriving dairy community now seems like a moment lost in time. Cropping and farming equipment left without access to water and dry, dead pastures. Lesley told us about the farmers left in the region just holding on. 60 year old men supported by their amazing and courageous wives attempting to haul their water pipes further out into the mud. Some farmers dangerously risk their lives to reach just a bit more water to keep themselves struggling through. Significant sand bars are now developing which will cut off any water accessed in by farmers for livestock and critical human consumption.

The South Australian Government are looking to build a temporary wall near the ferry and will pump water out of Lake Alexandrina to Lake Albert. This will not assist in solving the problem as it will probably impact water flows with increases of silt but it will begin to reduce the water level of Lake Alexandrina - similar to robbing Peter to pay Paul. The government hasn't consulted with any locals as to the validity of this action and its likely to create more problems for all those living and working around the lakes.

Environmental impacts are significant through the region. Low flows through the region are beginning to see water contamination along with high salinity. Birds are no longer in the area, mussells are dying along with fish stocks. We pulled into a barren paddock and see an expanse of sand. Once, where water lapped in close, it is now sand from the lake bed that is blown over the lake edge onto the adjoining land, creating a major problem with sand drifting. This sand drifting will be a major environmental disaster to tackle into the future. The edge of the lake continues around to Meningie.

Meningie is the gateway to the Coorong and is really feeling the pain as a community abandoned by it's government. This proud, tight community are dealing with economic, social and environmental impact. Meningie is a beautiful lakeside town and is the hub for many people in the surrounding district. People in the district are having to deal with the pain of water issues. Although, when you look out from the towns’ parklands by the lake, you can see the lake. However, it's clear that the beach now extends over 100 metres out and has dropped over a metre in depth. The government cannot give any guarantees of water coming into the lakes so the reality to date is most farms will be wiped out. The lack of cooperation by the basin states regarding water is a national shame. The lack of ability to share from the same system has seen water stored at the top of the basin and not allowed to naturally flow to the mouth. This is turning out to be a massive disaster never experienced in Australia and there's very little effort by governments to take leadership and accountability on this matter.

The devastation through the Coorong is a massive national environmental disaster. The impact of no water flows has changed the environment and had significant impact of every possible part of the eco-system in the region. Australia has signed the Internationally recognised Ramsar Agreement stating the Lower Lakes and the Coorong are Ramsar (www.ramsar.org) wetlands recognised as a matter of national environmental significance under the EPBC Act. We, as a country, have failed our international obligation for maintaining this significant national waterway. The federal government hasn't made any efforts to protect this beautiful and unique part of Australia with the acquisition of water to get it into the system now. Not in six months or one year, but NOW! We don't have the luxury of time.

Discover Murray represents the Murray River nationally, I've been aware of the impact of this drought from the alps to the mouth for many years. However, my recent lower Murray River and lakes drought impact tour from Mannum to the Coorong has really highlighted the serious symptoms developing in the region. The heavy reduction of water flows will cause massive devastation through South Australia and noticeably in Victoria and New South Wales both environmentally, economically and socially. We need all Australians to understand how serious this is and in time it will begin like a cancer to work it's way up the Murray to begin impacting in Victoria and New South Wales. Ultimately, this will not only damage Australia's reputation, but also our environment and our economy.

We need urgent Federal management of the Murray-Darling Basin today, not in 2011. This is not just a South Australian environmental issue. Regardless of state borders, parochial issues and population sizes, we cannot afford as a country to sacrifice each other and our important environment. The Murray River needs help! The issue is national and it's a catastrophe developing never before seen in Australia's history. Please help us by working together today.

Shane Strudwick
Discover Murray