Image: Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance
South Australia’s water crisis has taken centre stage in the national election with a compelling front-page campaign launched by The Advertiser. The campaign, titled ‘Dry Rivers Kill,’ calls on federal leaders to commit to the restoration of the River Murray. As one of the state’s crucial resources during droughts, the campaign is highlighting the river’s importance to South Australians.
The River Murray, responsible for supplying half of Adelaide’s drinking water, is pivotal for the state’s industries, tourism, and wildlife. This campaign comes at a time when South Australia has experienced a long dry summer and record-low rainfall.
Craig Wilkins, National Director of the Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance shared, “This election we’re asking people to vote as if the future of the river depends on it – because it does.
“With the current Murray-Darling Basin Plan nearing its end, the next Federal Government will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset the future of the river system. So we’re urging all parties to make a renewed commitment to the river as part of their election platforms.
“We need a new plan for the Murray-Darling that restores at least 30% of rivers and wetlands by 2030, in line with international nature protection commitments.”
When the river runs dry, there’s a huge impact on the tourism and fishing industries.
“As the driest state in the driest inhabited continent, the future of South Australia is tied to the health of the River Murray. When our rivers run dry, tourism and fishing industries collapse. We’re not just losing fish, we’re also losing jobs, businesses and entire communities,” said Craig.
“But if we let the river flow with increased commitments and better management, then the wetlands can bounce back, native fish and waterbirds can return, and communities can thrive. This election is our chance to turn things around.”
Local Coorong fisherman Glen Hill shared, “During the Millennium Drought, I stood in parts of the river that used to be extraordinary fish places, extraordinary bird places, that were now a dust storm, bawling my eyes out like a little kid. I just don’t want to go back there again
“When they take too much water upstream, we’re the ones who suffer. We need to let the river be a river and do its job – and that means making sure enough water flows into SA.”
The Murray-Darling Conservation Alliance, a national coalition dedicated to safeguarding the Murray-Darling Basin’s rivers, wetlands, and wildlife, plays a pivotal role in this campaign. The coalition consists of conservation councils across SA, NSW, Victoria, QLD, and the ACT, all uniting for the cause of river restoration.
The ‘Dry Rivers Kill’ campaign is a critical reminder of the interconnections between environmental management and regional stability. It stresses the vital need for strategic action and government commitment to secure the socio-economic and environmental future of South Australia and, by extension, the nation.
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