Buy Water Now to Save Coorong

20/02/08 11:00 am

Greens MLC Mark Parnell has called on the Rann Government to lead by example and immediately buy River Murray water entitlements to ensure emergency flows reach the Coorong.

“This is a national and international crisis and it’s happening in our backyard, and on our watch. SA’s Kakadu is dying before our eyes.

“Just as SA lead the way with container deposit legislation, and is now leading again with solar feed-in laws, South Australia can and must start buying water now for essential environmental flows.

“To wait for a national response risks further delays and inaction. The Coorong and Lower Lakes desperately need fresh water now, not in six months time,” Mark Parnell said.

The need for urgent action echoes similar calls from environmentalists and the Wentworth Group of Scientists.

“The situation is desperate. It is increasingly clear the new Federal Labor Government will not produce the urgent solution required to deal with the current emergency facing the Coorong. More water is desperately needed now, and the quickest, most efficient way to get that water is for the Governments at both a state and federal level to enter the market and buy water entitlements.

“While we wait for Federal action, the State Government can show the way.

“I can think of no better way to use the ‘Save the Murray Fund’. If we don’t act soon, there will be very little of the Murray river system left to ‘save’,” he said.

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